How to find TIME to learn a language

How can you ever find the time to learn a language with a busy schedule? Here is how I manage to fit a good amount of language learning into my busy days!

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The native speaker tutoring shown in my videos is through iTalki. You can get $10 credit applied to your account when you make your first purchase, or you can just check it out for free using this link, which also helps me out by allowing me to take more language lessons:

Language learning videos, tips and techniques!

OK if you've reached the end of THIS description then you shouldn't really be struggling to find the time to learn languages. But if you need something to do then let me know in the comments what time saving or time CREATING tips you have in order to free up time to learn languages!

[daysandwords]

Thanks for watching! Get 67% off StoryLearning Courses for a Limited Time!

[CouchPolyglot]

The thing that helps me most is learning while doing boring tasks for which I do not need to think, like listening to a podcast while cooking or reading while commuting. It does not have to be an hour, it can be a 10-minute microtask. I also combine exercise with language learning sometimes, I even read somewhere that learning anything in movement is more effective. Somehow the movement helps retain the information, I guess it makes sense! Congrats on your half-marathon btw! 🥳

[medusa]

Thanks for keeping it short...under 4 hours! Appreciate it.

[Therealbgk]

Great points, Lamont, especially on the exercise piece. Far too often it feels like language learning is about sitting down watching hours upon hours of TV/movies (don't really care to spend my time that way) or sitting at a desk studying notes/textbooks/other materials. Lots & lots of sitting, on top of what I already do all day at my digital marketing job. Love finding opportunities to stay active as I learn!

[RunAin]

Congratulations for the half marathon. I totally agree with you that exercise like running gives us more energy. Signing up for running races motivates me to run more.

[philipdavis]

Two things: With exercise, you can easily match with language learning - I walk for more than an hour a day while listening to language tapes. Also: My new timesaving tip - when getting ready for bed I listen to a gentle 20 minute short story, the last 10 minutes in bed. It helps send me to sleep with the language. I set my alarm about 20 minutes earlier than before and listen to a 30 minute Pimsleur lesson. With another 10-15 mins of listening while making my breakfast I feel that gives me a whole hour of learning a day without breaking into my time.

[DNAppm]

So excellent advice! You are 100% on the right track, Lamont. I can only confirm by telling the same in my words, if it would help somebody. I call it: move to the land of knowledge (in your mind). Live like as if everyhting is about learnign what you want to learn. If you do yoga, cooking, gardening, philosophy, minimalism, training, watching news, lectures - do it in your target language and talk with yourself in made up dialogue, about topics that are interesting to you, if possible talk out aloud. Sing, read, cite aloud, perhaps in tandem with a native speaker. Listen to recorded lessons while walking, jogging, cleaning, potatoe cutting, knitting, commuting, cycling, sunbathing, what ever. Have the means and the methods you prefer at hand, not stuffed away in some difficult to reach corner. And remember, your own mind is always with you, and just trying to recall what you have heard, seen, read, is good for your language skill. It prepares your brain for reaffirming the knowledge another time. For fluency you have always your tongue with you, move it about in your mouth as if you were an opera singer practicing plasticity. Exaggerate, have fun!

[mjinhamburg]

I was exercising while watching! Imagine my surprise when you said Start Exercising Now!

[bensomes]

Love the segway into exercise! It's so important. The irony is many people make the excuse "I don't have the energy". No! It will give you energy. And for the I don't have time excuse, many people use that for exercise as well. The positives always outweigh the time commitments. It's 2022 people, the importance of exercise is so clear, you pretty much can't not do it 🙂

[Name-oefq]

Ily, good to see you back with some helpful video.
Also I just wanted to say that you really motivated me to learn language(s) with a positive attitude so, thank you very much my man. <3

[ctnt]

Very good tips. For me, the biggest trick for making the time is just finding something that I love. It could be a book or audiobook, a series, a podcast, a tutor or language partner that I like... Whatever the activity, if I *really* enjoy it then I'll find the time for it.

I read a lot and I've started taking this into account much more with my choice of material. If I buy a book of stories by Borges, I'll end up spending a couple hours a week with it; if I get a thriller with a compelling plot, I'll spend a couple hours a day. The highbrow stuff is worthwhile and I still consume it, but if the goal is to spend lots of time with the language then the main thing is to find the most compelling content possible. Find a book you can't put down or a bingeable show. As Olly Richards once put it, move heaven and earth to find compelling comprehensible input.

[caitlinevans]

Great video! And one that's given me a bit of a reality check - I started uni this academic year and since then I've struggled with finding time to spend with my target language. Also, since moving cities, I've not found a new boxing gym to attend, so both language learning and exercise have dropped off for me. I hadn't considered that doing one would increase the effectiveness of the other, and make the little free time I do have more beneficial, so thanks Lamont!

[ladykookosmile]

I've recently been combining doing the thing I hate the most with language learning: washing the dishes. I mostly hate how much time it takes when you have to wash them after every meal, and sadly I don't own a dishwasher. Luckily tho, I can accumulate dishes for two or three days (I'm a student, I live in a dorm, feel free to judge tbh) and then I can wash all of them and clean the kitchen in maybe 40 minutes, basically doing them in bulk as you explained. Then, during these 40 minutes of mindless cleaning, I can listen to one or two podcast episodes: it's a win-win :D

[Stephanie-gvrh]

This is good advice. Thank you 🙏🏻 I swear your videos always give me the kick up the behind I need.

And well done on the marathon!

[AntonSlavik]

Well, this is new. Holistic. I'm actually impressed.
Also, respect for sporting an Irish course book in the thumbnail. If only as many native Irish learned their language as people did abroad, we might actually have an identity and pride in ourselves.

[sae]

Pretty good advice, I think the exercise one is the one I need to focus on most as I don't do a lot and lack energy, which I know affects how much language learning I do before nothing goes in. And then it seems the rest would fall into place. Gonna try focusing on doing some regularly and see how it helps.

I still get time in during the week, but progress is always slower than it could be and my excuse often is "I don't have much time", but I also procrastinate when I lack energy and focus because my brain don't wanna do shit.

[tylermacneill]

I saw this video yesterday and after hearing you pitch Olly's course, I did some research on it and decided it was something I'd like to try. I made sure to come back and use your affiliate link!

[thescowlingschnauzer]

1:23 "Sounds like a wager to me." [Aussie intensifies]

[davidh]

Good tips!

Also MCM x Days of French n Swedish when??

[AJ-lodr]

When's the QnA coming? Loved the video :)