Anytime is a good time to hit reset on your language learning. But if you need a boost in motivation after a patch of no learning, here’s how to restart learning a language.

When we’re after a bit of a shakeup, we often don’t need to try and change everything all at once. This is no different.

Before taking action here, read the whole article and pick the suggestions that fit best for you right now and get you most excited.

It could just be that one thing needs to switch for a whole new way to restart learning a language.

Treat yourself to a new resource.

I’m definitely not an advocate of buying all the things and hoping that solves the problem. However, if you’re after a fresh start, sometimes a new resource can be just the answer.

It could be a new coursebook or workbook, perhaps an app subscription you’ve had your eye on, or maybe joining a membership or program like Language Life to connect with other learners.

Whatever you opt for, only make the choice if you feel excited about the prospect of using it. That way, you’ll be more likely to actually notice a difference rather than never really use the thing you treat yourself to.

Related: How to Personalise Any Language Resource
https://www.lindsaydoeslanguages.com/how-to-personalise-any-language-resource/

Take some time to set new goals.

Sometimes that fresh start can come from an update on our goals.

It’s easy to fall into a rut with our goals and keep doing the same things but not getting the results we’re after.

Take a moment to pause your learning and figure out what you’re aiming for. Again, if it’s a restart we’re after, this should have you feeling excited when you’re done.

Related: How to Set Mistake Goals for Language Learning
https://www.lindsaydoeslanguages.com/how-to-set-mistake-goals-for-language-learning/

Switch languages.

Perhaps the fix for you right now is to actually stop learning the language you’re learning. And then choose another one instead.

It’s not just switching resources, goals and the like that can get us the refreshing boost we’re after. Sometimes it’s a case of changing language.

And there’s lots of ways to do this.

You could take a month or so to explore a brand new language – no goals, no pressure, just fun.

You could revisit a language you’ve studied in the past and see how you do.

Or you could go for multiple languages. Your call.

Related: Learning Multiple Languages Simultaneously
https://www.lindsaydoeslanguages.com/learning-multiple-languages-simultaneously/

Take on a new challenge.

There’s plenty of challenges out there for language learners to choose from. We even just added a whole new challenge feature to Language Life, which I’m really excited about!

Plus there’s always the option of getting creative and making up your own challenge for yourself to achieve.

A challenge is different to a goal because it should feel a little bit more daring and…well, challenging. I guess it’s in the name.

Related: How to Commit to Learning a Language When You Can’t Do It Regularly
https://www.lindsaydoeslanguages.com/how-to-commit-to-learning-a-language-when-you-cant-do-it-regularly/

Make morning and/or evening plans.

As nights get shorter and morning gets darker (boo!), it’s way too easy to find yourself accidentally letting autoplay roll on over to the next episode and spending more time than you’d like in front of the TV.

Something that can help here is making some morning and/or evening plans for your language learning.

If you’re super motivated, whatever you go for will likely happen.

However, if you need a little more external motivation, try and make plans where others are relying on you. That way you’re less likely to bail and more likely to show up and do the thing.

I’m thinking language exchange, meet-ups, lessons…that sort of thing.

Related: How to Start Learning a Language Without Changing Your Routine
https://www.lindsaydoeslanguages.com/how-to-start-learning-a-language-without-changing-your-routine/

Plan only until the end of the year.

One reason people find goals hard is that they feel kinda endless. Especially when learning a language never really ends.

However, the joy of planning and goals in the autumn is that you can plan only until the end of the year. Take things a few months at a time and you’ll be more excited to tackle what’s ahead because there’s a clear not-so-far-away end point.

Keep your plans short and sweet to take you through just the next few months.

Related: How to Organise Your Language Learning in One Weekend
https://www.lindsaydoeslanguages.com/how-to-organise-your-language-learning-in-one-weekend/

Go back to school.

If schools normally go back for a new academic year in September where you live, it could be worth investigating local adult learning and community course options.

These tend to line up with local academic timelines, so autumn is a great time to see what’s on offer where you live.

Not only would this give you a formal language boost, it’s a great chance to meet local learners too. This may lead to longer lasting exchange and study buddy options.

Related: How to Use Audio Lessons for Language Learning
https://www.lindsaydoeslanguages.com/how-to-use-audio-lessons-for-language-learning/

Learn something else.

Maybe your language skills are strong but you’d like to try your hand at something new. Are there any local (or online) workshops and courses that explore culturally related things?

Think a taekwondo class if you’re learning Korean, a French pastry class if it’s French, or an Indonesian batik workshop if Indonesian is your language of choice.

Give yourself the chance to connect deeper with the culture related to the language you’re learning. This is sometimes what we don’t realise is missing from our language learning until we try.

Related: Now What? What to Do After Duolingo: Intermediate Language Learning Strategies
https://www.lindsaydoeslanguages.com/now-what-what-to-do-after-duolingo-intermediate-language-learning-strategies/

Pick a topic, deep dive!

A new season is a great excuse to deep dive on a new topic in your target language.

The fun here is that you get to decide what that focus looks like. You could go all in on “food” and learn lots of new stuff there, or be super focused on one particular dish, say “patatas bravas”.

And, of course, you get to decide how this fits in with your learning too. Is it purely cultural knowledge you’re after? Or maybe you want to only learn about your topic in the language itself?

Related: How to Use a Language Planner
https://www.lindsaydoeslanguages.com/how-to-use-language-planner/

Dig into your watchlist

You’ve probably found a few shows over the years that you’ve been meaning to watch in that language, right?

Time to dig into your Netflix watchlist and start that new show.

Enjoy it for what it is, or let it guide your learning. Here’s lots of ideas to get started with Netflix and Disney+ for language learning.

Related: 23 Multilingual Netflix Shows for Language Learners
https://www.lindsaydoeslanguages.com/23-multilingual-netflix-shows-for-language-learners/

Find your new favourite song

Music is always a good motivator. Perhaps what you need right now to restart things is a new band to fall in love with.

I recommend my own Not My Mother Tongue playlist as a good starting point. Each week, I clear it and update it with 7 new songs not sung in English (or mostly not in English!)

Beyond that, I’ve got lots of playlists sharing my favourite songs, as well as all the audio lessons I could find on Spotify.

Related: How to Use Spotify for Language Learning
https://www.lindsaydoeslanguages.com/how-to-use-spotify-for-language-learning/

The Solo Language Learner Planner

See that above? That’s just a few of the planning pages included in The Solo Language Learner Planner. To see the full list, take a look right here.

The planner is what I use regularly to get my language learning goals and plans out of my head and in front of me.

The planner is print-ready but also digital-ready, meaning that if you prefer, you can keep your planner saved on your computer and plan things out there instead of on paper. Oh hey, 21st century! Ha!

The best part about the planner is that it only costs once and it lasts forever. Quite the steal.

If you’re ready to get planning and take your language learning up a level, then click here to learn more + get your copy of The Solo Language Learner Planner.