how to learn a language on your own as a busy student (self study guide)

Your next steps:
COMMENT:
1) What language(s) are you learning and why?
2) What strategies will you use to learn?
3) What pitfalls will you avoid on your journey?
4) How will you keep yourself accountable?

YouTubers (that talk all things language learning):

Italki (where I take lessons):

Mandarin 🇨🇳
DuChinese (on App Store)

Spanish 🇪🇸

Portuguese (Brazilian) 🇧🇷

LET’S BE FRIENDS

FAQ
how old are you? ➭ 16, junior in high school!
what do you edit with? ➭ Final Cut Pro

[djkerr]

Currently trying to learn Spanish, French, and Japanese since the beginning of the year. Super motivating to hear that I'm not insane.

[howto]

I agree with the whole “ English isn’t the default”. I don’t know why I thought it was before I started language learning.

[m.nestor]

Timestamps cuz I couldn’t find any in the comments
0:17 Why learn a language
1:55 choosing a language
5:43 strategies
12:46 your next steps

[UserImaniD]

thank you much, i’ve been wanting to learn a new language but it’s so hard to find time with school

[kalicia]

1. I am learning Korean because I love South Korean culture and media. The language sounds very "familial"- it feels like a language you would use with your extended family during reunions and holidays. I really like languages with a homey feel.
2. I will listen to podcasts, write poems, read news articles, read the bible, and change my device language to Korean
3. I will avoid relying fully on apps like Duolingo and actively use the language daily. I will focus more on vocabulary instead of grammar.
4. I will schedule study times with my study buddies
5. I will focus more on output. I will talk to myself in Korean, write in Korean, and other things to immerse myself in the language.

[betzyperez]

I want to learn ASL because I'm a first responder and I feel like it's essential in healthcare.
I'm using flashcards to learn the basics like the alphabet.
I'm going to avoid giving myself a time constraint.
I'm going to keep myself accountable by trying to use the language on an everyday basis

[saharaw]

Currently learning my 6th language. I discovered in middle school that learning languages is very easy for me so I made it my mission to learn as many languages as I can. My goal this year is to learn 2 more languages. You’re video is really inspiring me, since by the time it’s hard to motivate me to study. Thank you and good luck on your journey! 😊

[the_tomi_a]

1) I'm learning Spanish not only because it's taught in school but because I'm interested in it for travel and other things
2) Strategies — reading the Bible in Spanish, listening to podcasts (I'm following a few right now), watching YouTubers in Spanish
3) Traps to avoid — only focusing on grammar (especially with classes in school)
4) Maintaining streaks & getting my friend to keep me accountable
5) I think in the next 7 days I can make it a goal to have a conversation in Spanish or journal in Spanish once a day!

Love your content Annie, thanks and keep up the good work❤

[PeanutTheSnail]

I was in a Spanish immersion program for about 5 years before they phased it out, but i genuinely believe knowing Spanish at a young age influenced my grades and ability to learn. Languages are awesome!

[daliamomchilova]

1. I’m learning Spanish because it’s mandatory at school and I think it’ll be good for my career plus it’s fun to learn. I’m also learning Korean which I’m doing for career purposes and also it’s fun to learn. 2. For Spanish I take lessons and practice on my free time and for Korean I am doing a course. 3. Learning the language without talking and listening. 4. Setting goals 5. Making sure I do my Spanish homework and practice more as well as watch a movie in Spanish. For Korean do my course.

[EmmaGrace]

seeing your progress since your trip has been INSANELY impressive. this video is going to be a resource for so many people!

[giosd]

Aahh annie, i felt so happy when you started speaking portuguese!
I’m brazilian and i love seeing people from different countries learning Portuguese!
Gosto muito dos seus vídeos, você me inspira muito!!🫶🏽🫶🏽

[ellennaiane]

It's really nice to know someone's learning my language (portuguese). Boa sorte, Annie :)

[elianamolina]

Your content is so good Annie! You motivate me to do so much more and be productive ✨❤️🌱🎧🌟

[yelissahernandez]

I loved this video. My target language for this year is English, my native language is Spanish and Turkish is my second language but sometimes it’s really difficult for me as a medical student to find time to study languages but this year I want to overcome this mindset and achieve my language goals.

Some of the problems that languages learners face are not using the things their learn because no one talk the language in their environment. Sometimes when I learn something new in my target language I want to talk about it and share it with someone but cannot because no one knows English in my city. I don’t have any feedback and that makes that the learning process becomes more difficult and slower.

[langsandbella]

What useful language-learning ideas! Thanks from the bottom of my heart for them :)

[gjxnd]

Oh my goodness you are brilliant at languages!!! You are such an amazing role model!!!! Thank you so much, you motivate me to pursue my dreams of learning multiple languages!!! Lots of love, from England!!!

[sokeefelover]

Thank you so much for this video annie! it always makes my day when you post. I am in a DLI (dual language immersion) program in my school for spanish and have been speaking spanish for 7 years now, this video has given me so much motivation to focus on studying it more than I currently am outside of school. I have recently been getting interested in learning french, so I'm going to try it out and see how it goes.🙂🤞
1. I am learning spanish and french, because they can help me with jobs in the future and provide a way for me to challenge myself while increasing future opportunities. (and cause its fun to speak to others in different languages)
2.I am going to start by using duolingo to start learning french, and use study materials and watch shows and movies for spanish.
3.I am going to try to stay consistent so that i don't give up or forget about it by adding it as a daily task in my calendar.
4.I am going to stay accountable by using the structured app on my phone to send me reminders of when it is time to practice daily to make it a habit.

[nendoakuma]

Sounds like you’re doing great! I agree that it’s good to learn the languages that you are more likely to be able to use in real life. That’s mainly what I’m sticking with these days.
Recently I’ve mostly been usinq apps, videos, dialogues, and newspaper reading to improve my languages. In the past I had lots of lessons with teachers (online and off), but I don’t really have the energy for that these days.
I’ve doing mostly maintenance of Mandarin and Cantonese (which I also have to use very day in real life) as well as more active study of Vietnamese and Spanish.

[alana]

Seu Português é tão bom!!!
Obrigada por ser uma inspiração!