I decided which language I want to learn next! :)

So the last few weeks (or even months) I thought about which language could be the most useful, most beautiful and most logical language choice for me. Which language feels “right” for me?

I wanted to decide between:

• Japanese
• Russian
• Korean
• Spanish

Today was the day. Yes ladies and gentlemen I’m talking about THE DAY I finally decided which language I want to learn next.

It’s going to be Italian.

What?

That’s not even on the list?

Yeah because I’m a mess and suck at making decisions. 

To be honest I never wanted to learn Italian. I found it to be boring (because not much difference to the languages I know), no real cultural difference and where I make vacations (every year since I was 3 years old) they speak German anyway. I’m not into pasta, I’m not into pizza, I’m not into wine (I actually hate wine). There was nothing I was interested in when it came to Italian. And no this is not a story about how something special happened and then it got me like “Italian it is!”. Actually, it didn’t happen anything. Today I just thought “it’s going to be Italian” and now I’m excited about it for seriously no reason at all. Nothing happened. I didn’t even get in touch with the language today!

I always wanted my next language to be as different as possible and now it’s going to be Italian. For no reason. Funny how life goes. So ladies and gentlemen, I’m glad to present you my next language which I never thought I would even look at it. I’m super excited and for some reason the language suddenly sounds beautiful to me! 

I’m hoping for a funny journey. And I’m going to be in Italy in two months again so let’s see how it goes. :)

So I found myself struggling these days because of a loss of motivation. Of course that’s normal, especially while learning a new language. First you’re like “I can learn this language in one night!” motivated but that can change into “How the f*ck could anyone remember all this sh*t?? Why am I doing this…”. I already saw that coming because it was the same with the language I learned before. That’s why I made a list for my future-me to look at when I feel like giving up. Now it’s time for it and I thought I could share it with you. Hopefully it helps some of you! :)

1. Drink water or juice. Yes I know, this is something people like to skip, because they want to get to the “real” tips, but please don’t do that! If you’re feeling tired, exhausted, down or even depressiv this can help you! 

2. Clean your desk. If it looks like world war 3 just passed your table, it’s too messy and you will feel like it.

3. Read the list. Yes I mean THE list. Oh wait… you don’t know what I’m talking about? I mean the list you wrote down with reasons why you want to have good grades, why you started this new language, why you have to study the stuff you have to study right now. What do you mean you don’t have a list like that? Write one and then read it!

4. Look at your goals. What do you mean you don’t have a list with small goals that will keep you motivated? What are you doing the whole day? Write one! And be sure you write down small goals you can reach in like a few days or weeks. Everything else will be too far away.

5. Look at the list with rewards you will get/do/buy yourself if you reach a goal. Yes… I’m sure you have a list like that. I’m sure because you know you need one. Who doesn’t like rewards?… Of course you have one. Of course.

6. Anything is better than nothing. Watch a movie in your target language, listen to music the guy you have to learn about composed or watch a Youtube video of this stupid maths stuff you don’t get. Also if you sit down and just study 5 minutes it’s better than nothing. 

7. Start a challenge. There are challenges for everything everywhere on the internet. Find one you like, set your goals, choose your rewards and start. This coffee you want to drink at this cool new Coffee shop won’t drink itself!

8. Teleport yourself into the future and skip studying. Of course that doesn’t work! Do I look like a wizard? No. But just close your eyes for a little bit, relax and imagine how you feel after reaching your goal. For example if you are studying a new language, imagine how you visit the country where your target language is spoken. You wake up and go outside for breakfast. You order what you want in your target language, while people look at you, impressed on how good you speak their language. You sit down and drink your coffee/tea, while a cute young man asks if he can sit next to you, because all other seats are taken. He starts a conversation and you have no problem to speak in your target language. He tells you how cute your accent is and asks you for a date. Oh, that won’t happen? Of course not if you don’t study.

9. Go for a walk. I know, just like “drink water” you probably want to skip that, but just don’t. If you really don’t want to go for a walk open all windows. Breath.

10. Meditate. Maybe you’re just too stressed. Calm yourself down for a moment.

11. Exercise. Your body will produce happy hormones. Yes I said happy hormones and yes they exist. Probably not with this name but who cares. The chance is higher to feel motivated to study after a workout.

12. Write a To Do List. Yes I like lists because they work. Write down what you HAVE TO DO today. If nothings helps you should at least do these things and just take a nap. The world is brighter after a nap.

13. There is no thirteen.

The best way to keep your motivation is to reward yourself for reaching your goals (even the small ones!). :)
But first you need to set goals… if you have no idea what you could do on your language learning journey you can check out this postfrom@lovelybluepanda.
It’s a really cool post about “100 Goals you can have as a language learner”. There are daily, weekly, monthly and yearly goals.
So, if you’re done choosing the goals you want to reach, it’s time to choose the reward you want to get after completing it.
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Here are examples for rewards you can give yourself. :)

• go to a café with your friends
  
• watch a movie at the cinema
• make a trip to another city
• buy stickers, pencils, markers, washi tapes, etc. everything you’re using for your language learning entries
• buy yourself something big for reaching big goals ( like even a car, yes I’m talking about REALLY big goals)
• new shoes
• an app
• a monthly subscription for a language learning app/website like Busuu,  Babbel or Memrise
• food from your target country
• beauty stuff from your target country (yes I’m looking at you Korean and Japanese learners, there is much you can buy)
• order food to your house
• nail polish, lipstick, beauty masks, etc. (just small things you can buy at the next drugstore)
• massage
• new hairstyle
• eyelashes extensions
• take a day off
• visit a museum
• buy yourself a new book (maybe even one for language learning)
• make a Netflix day
• candy from the next grocery store
• buy something that’s trending in your target country
• a trip to your target country
• go to a restaurant with friends or your family
• a new outfit
• get a pedicure/manicure
• buy yourself flowers
• take a course (like cooking, drawing, etc.)
• visit a comedy club
• tickets for a festival/band/singer you want to see
• go golfing with friends
• paintball (like seriously… try it with friends it’s fun haha :))
• spa day
• join a sport club
• gym membership
• go camping
• a new laptop bag
• look online for something you want and take the first thing you see (that’s especially for people like me who usually need days to decide if they want something or not)
• visit a bookstore or library
• make a picnic
• take a hot bubble bath
• buy a magazine or even subscribe to one
• buy a plant for the room you’re usually studying
• new headphones to have a better quality while listening to songs in your target language
• piercing
• tattoo
• jewellery
  
• buy a few online lessons in italki
• yoga / meditation
• buy candy from your target language
• buy a bag with candy from all over the world
• a mixer for smoothies
• new workout clothes
• go to a party/club
• a new journal (or your first one)
• a fancy waterbottle
• search for new songs in your target language
• a colouring book to relax
• put money into a jar every time you reach a goal (for a bigger reward)
• search for events near your city
• go on a road trip with your best friend or partner
• take language classes
• buy a new videogame
• try a new hobby

Done. I hope you find some of my ideas helpful. :)