How Long Should You Study A Language Each Day? | Polyglot Language Learning Tips

How long should you study a language for each day? Well, we could look at a very simple response to that question and often it is nice to avoid the "it depends" version of an answer. But today I'd like to specifically dig into the nuanced version of the answer and talk about how the less time you spend on a language each day, the more important it becomes to think about what you'll do with that time.

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My BEST TIP For Building New LANGUAGE HABITS

My BEST TIP For Maintaining Foreign Languages

Video where I discuss my prioritized rotation system:

[Tehui]

I'm a believer that most busy people (like me) can commit to 1 hour a day of language learning and / or exposure. A good time to clock up the hours is by listening to podcasts when people are commuting, grocery shopping or walking outside or doing other daily activities. It's not difficult to find time to watch a 30 minute in the evening to watch a TV programme in your target language. Ultimately, it comes down to what people prioritise.

[samykiani]

My approach is it to aquire the basics as fast as possible. I learn with a single ressource for one until three months (depending on the difficulty of the language.) This affords to put several hours each day into studying. I'm not locking on the clock but it might be up to three hours. Once I finished my ressource I have the basics or in the best case I'm already at a bottom intermediate level (B1). Then I start to immerse myself into the language on using Media such as Youtube or TV channels. But I spent less time than in the first phase. The first phase is highly intensive. I think once you have a B1 one hour a day is very good. Half an hour is the minimum.

[grandbaks]

I learn 2-4 hours a day, 6-8 at the weekend. I do it because I love it. I find studying languages half of hour or only 1 hour inefficient. I feel like it brings me nowhere.

[caitlinhannahan]

I just wanted to tell you how much I've appreciated this site. I've had to learn three languages fluently as an adult for various reasons, a) lived in my teens and early twenties in Spanish-speaking countries, b) as an adult have worked exclusively in French-speaking environments and am now c) gearing up over the last two years to move to Germany with my German-speaking husband and soon-to-be born German child. I've had to use all your tips to study and learn these languages while working full time (in that language), so thanks for the help and please keep it up. (Lol yes talking to yourself is key).

[LanguageExplorer]

Right, I used to just listen to podcasts and watch videos too in my target language but of course, it would develop just mostly my listening skills. We need a different approach when we want to be a fluent speaker, and a different one when we want to focus on writing.

Comprehension perhaps, always comes first. We understand a text in our target language when we read. We understand a native speaker (if he doesn't speak too fast) but the problem comes when we formulate our own sentences... As for me, it takes quite a lot of sitting down and scribbling till I find the right words to express what I want to say (in an essay, for example) then a couple of seconds to organize my thoughts in the language before I speak (since I'm in intermediate level).

Love the vibe of your video!

[jeffreyd]

Many people talk about the minimum. My mistake was learning too much, 4-5 hours a day, seven days a week. Some days, eight hours or more. After 1.5 years, I took a full day off, and the following day I had so much clarity. I think the brain needs time to process/absorb. I try to keep my learning down to two hours a day if possible now. I live a life of nearly 100% leisure, so I find myself falling back into my Russian learning, and I feel it's detrimental to my progress to study so much
.
Less is more everyone! We can't speed up the process. You're doing good at one hour a day. Don't make my mistakes

[jojox]

I just came across your channel and I’m here to say, if the rest of your content is as valuable as this you sir are incredibly underrated! It’s hard to find someone who offers this much value in a video. It seems the majority of content creators are pushing the learn a language in a week rhetoric. It’s refreshing to watch content from someone who wishes to offer sincere advice on ways to improve the language learning journey.

[janaabedal-reda]

Robin you give the most amazing and honest tips about language learning I always watch your videos when I don't feel like I'll ever make progress, so thank you!

[JohnJohnson-oxuc]

You seem to have a knack for hitting topics right when I need them. Just coming off a week or so break after about a month of more intense study on top of more hours/week working, so this topic is perfect as I look at a more balanced schedule all around. Another great video!

[phylliciasandrarobert]

I like what you have to say about this topic. It's all about what we do with the time we have. I personally only have between 30 minutes to an hour to learn a foreign language a day. Glad to know that there is a highly skilled language learner who sees the nuances instead of just giving a purely black or white answer.

By the way, I am loving your background. It makes me feel like I am hanging out with a friend, talking about language learning. 😊

[ViacheslavKr]

Hi, Robin! I found out that at my level of English just listening to you helps me to study the language.

[raffcummins]

interesting take Robin, I also think it becomes a lot less important on what you do once you start getting to a higher level because everything starts to become equally "unimportant" because you have already learnt everything that will give you the biggest returns like a verb tense.

[Themoment]

I really recommend listening to a pimsleur lesson a day and reading in your target language after you learn the alphabet

[ShoshanaSki]

Your channel is pure gold. This video (or maybe the whole channel??) helped me realize I need to change my learning strategy ASAP. Thanks a ton!

[EireDiplomat]

Robin, I just came across your channel last week and I must say it's quickly become one of my favourite language learning channels on YouTube (along with InnerFrench, Steve Kaufmann and Olly Richards) keep up the good work man!

[kirannnful]

I am looking for such tips, really useful

[abderrahmane]

It was very helpful.
I appreciate your help.
You have my unshakable respects.
A new fan from Algeria🇩🇿🇩🇿🇩🇿 🙂

[diegowillian]

Can we talk about how his hair looks so gorgeous?

[sarahsissi]

I'm learning english, and as a working mom of two kids it's not easy to find the time for practise, but i try to be consistant and working every day, when i don't have time i just put on my headphones when i'm cooking or like today listning to 20 min to youtube video before sleeping.

[o_felipe_reis]

The way you analysed this topic is amazing. I think that we come to a point in this process of language learning that we need to take care in order not to have a burnout. I guess putting a limit is crucial when you are experienced. For beginners the important is having a threshold to be achieved everyday. That's a complex theme right?
Your content is amazing! Food for thought! Stay safe! ;-)