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How To Know Your Language Learning Progress
Your own language progress is both an effort of challenging yourself to learn more and continuining to maintain that which you have already learned.
Physical Fitness and Language Learning Are Similar
Knowing your own progress within a language is similar to knowing your progress with physical fitness. There is no textbook method for measuring progress, because it is different for everyone. It matters where you have started from, what you have accomplished so far and what you are trying to achieve.
Here are common questions that you can ask yourself to assess your own progress:
Am I exercising and practicing on a regular basis?
Do I have a good routine and practice regulary?
Am I exercising all aspects within my routine? What am I missing?
Am I confident in what I have achieved so far, and can I do more?
How am I today compared to when I first started?
Am I challenging myself enough to grow towards my goal?
I Can Lift 20lbs This Week, And I Will Lift 25lbs Next Week
Goal setting is good in both physical fitness and language learning.
Say you have been training with weights and are at the point that now you can lift 20lbs. You have become confident that you can lift 20lbs, and you feel like you can begin to take on another 5lbs of weight starting next week. Next week you start with 25lbs, and as time moves on, that becomes easier for you to do. Physically, your muscles are also adjusting to accommodate the weight which you are lifting, and in fact, your muscles and mind and being conditioned to remember that you could lift the 25lbs, and how to do it best for you.
With language, the progression is very much the same as it is climbing from 20lbs to 25lbs in weightlifting. This week, you are able to say a few sentences in the language and become very comfortable, almost natural. Next week, you decide to take on a few more sentences in which you will learn. Your mind will use the sentences from this week as a foundation to build the sentences for next week. You mind is being conditioned to remember that you were able to do this week, and plan to do more next week.
If You Stop Working Out, You Will Lose Your Shape
If you stop going to the gym, stop riding the treadmill and/or stop doing push-ups, situps, crunches, jumping jacks, stretches, weightlifting, etc..., you will lose your shape. Likewise, if you stop using the language, stop studying, stop practicing, stop interacting in any language (including your native language), you will eventually lose the language.
The good news is that the more time you spend up front exercising, the longer it will take for you to lose your shape when you stop exercising, compared to someone that has never developed an exercising routine. The more you practice the language, the longer it will take for you to become less sharp when you stop practicing, compared to someone that has never developed a practicing routine.
Staying In Good Shape
The people in general who are the best physically fit are those that continue to work out on a regular basis. In fact, those that work out on a routine need to spend less effort to maintain the good shape.
The people who are able to communicate the best in the language are those that use it on a regular basis. Not much effort is needed to maintain it once you have it.
Pushing Your Mind Beyond The Limits
One of the best times to practice language is when you are tired. Usually when your mind is tired, you are not able to concentrate as well, and your native language thoughts and feelings take over completely. This is an ideal time to practice with the language you are learning. Put effort into getting the language into your mind, thoughts and feelings. When you are no longer tired and your mind is refreshed, your ability to utilize the language in different situations will be even stronger.
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