If you want to see a boost in your learning, track your progress. When I started this language journey, I tracked everything even if it seemed meaningless. At the time, I had a notebook with daily entries. I did not think much of it then, but that is how I began to build a habit. It has been nine months since I began, and I can see how much I have learned and grown.
The impact of learning Korean in 2022 is that I have developed a habit and am more consistent with keeping up with it. I also have gained more confidence in my study methods, which has inspired me to start a new language next year, but maybe in the middle of the year, around June or July.
So why am I not starting a new language on January 1st, 2023? Korean has been challenging and seeing how much I have improved and the hard work I’ve put in also made me realize that keeping the momentum has not been easy, it’s been a challenge on its own because responsibilities and life can bring surprises. However, I have made it my priority not to give up on this journey and to do everything in my power to continue, even if it’s slowly.
In February I invested 5 hours daily for three months. The more I learned, the more frustrated I became until I was close to burnout around August. My frustrations stemmed from seeing how much I needed to continue to learn to make it to intermediate. Currently, I am a solid high beginner but not at the intermediate level yet. Every time I accomplish a major learning point, I am introduced to six more grammatical structures that can make me feel like I haven’t progressed and it would lead to frustration. So it takes me a few more months to master and then I encounter more challenging chapters. This is a solid reminder that things take time and patience is essential.
At the start of my journey, I purchased a series consisting of three textbooks. Each chapter took me a few days in the beginning. By the end of the week, I would review the three or four chapters I had learned. After getting to month seven and starting the third book of the series, that momentum stopped. One chapter took me three weeks; I was not happy about it. But, instead of feeling defeated, I found new ways to tackle them, and now I am 30% through this book, but I am proud of what I have accomplished so far.
I am a perfectionist and my journey has reflected this. I do not want to buy different materials or jump ahead. Instead, I want to master the books I own. Although some people might tell me to skip around and learn new things, I do not like to feel distracted or overwhelmed by adding more. I take it slow when I need to. By December, I anticipate getting through 80% of the final book. By 2023, I’ll complete the series.
Don’t expect sudden or miraculous improvements after one, two, or even three months. The process is gradual and we truly manage to see a noticeable difference from six months to a year. Instead of rushing, I need to learn to go with the flow and understand that I’ll be proud of myself three years in when I see how far along I’ve progressed.
Originally published at http://thoughtsofang.wordpress.com on October 30, 2022.
