Intrepid English Teacher Natalia shares some tips on how to create a study plan that you are going to follow.
In a previous post I spoke about 6 techniques and activities to help you boost your English listening practice. We are all good at making plans and setting goals. Are we good at implementing them and making them consistent?
Here are some main things to consider when you set up your study practice, and how to make it work for you.
Make it feel easy to do it regularly
Rather than practising for an hour once or twice a week do it 10-15 (even 5 min!) every day while having a cup of coffee or before going to bed, having a shower or while driving to work. Your choice! You can practice “on the go”, most of us have quite busy schedules during our week. Set the time slot in your calendar and a reminder.
Plan a variety of listening activities
Choose listening resources and a list of things you want to listen to. Start small, make it enjoyable, and don’t be very strict with yourself if you miss a day or two. Track progress. Adjust when needed being flexible with your study plan.
Be patient
It takes time to see the progress, and be consistent in what you are doing. If you don’t understand 20-30 or even 50 % of what is said, that’s ok. Remember how much you might not understand in your language while listening to someone speaking too fast or watching the news. If you get the main idea – that’s a good start. Celebrate your achievements and reward yourself.
Set clear goals
What exactly do you need to understand? What kind of accents or what kind of topics? Is your aim to watch films, listen to podcasts, or speak to people from different countries of origin? What is your starting point and what is your challenge or difficult bit? Be specific, then it will help you to choose the material for your listening practice.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help
Ask your teacher for help and support if needed, get recommendations on what to listen to. Find a buddy you can practise together with, or a family member you can share your study plan and your progress with.
Be consistent!
Consistency is key! An Intrepid English Membership can help with this. Meet with your teacher once or twice a week, or even every day! Discuss your goals and improve quickly with lessons personalised to your specific needs and interests.