Developing a Study Plan

In this blog, you will find a framework for developing a study plan. While the details and the examples are all set in the context of second & foreign language learning, the main points are transferrable to other skills.

You could, for example, use the same advice to train for sports, become more virtuosic in your musicianship on an instrument, refine your art skills, or improve in any field. In fact, language learning at times uses all facets of these technical abilities – training the tongue, hearing and producing the sounds of language, and refining your expressions.

So, let us begin.

Set your Goals

Where do you want to be? What is your ultimate goal? This is your chance to aim high and dream big! Can you imagine yourself being fluent in the language? Are you looking to live in a country where your target language is spoken? Are you already living there and aiming to be more active in the culture? Is your goal to consume media in your target language?

What are your short-term goals? Are you studying to pass a test? Is your goal to raise your skills from Beginning to Intermediate? Or from Intermediate to Advanced?

Setting goals will help you consider what is you should focus on in your studies and the ways you wish to train to improve your skills and abilities. Some find it useful to be very specific with your goal-setting. Others find that it is better for them to be a bit more flexible and freer in their approach. (For me, personally, I have found both approaches useful at different times in my life.)

Regardless, set your goals – long-term and short-term – and give yourself a target.

Assess your Strengths and Weaknesses

The next step is to determine what areas you need to work on and develop. It may be that you need to expand your vocabulary, especially in areas where you feel limited in knowing how to express yourself. Or, you may need to start seeing and using your vocabulary in the context of sentences, paragraphs, and conversations. For some, you may need to brush up on your grammar or study a new point that you haven’t yet understood or mastered.

If all of that sounds easy, then perhaps you need to challenge yourself by engaging with some native content and/or native speakers. When you engage with more challenging material, try to identify what is easy for you and what is difficult. Over time, your goal is to make everything become a bit more achievable.

Gather Resources

Another important step in developing a study plan is to determine what resources you have available to help you answer the questions you have about the language and help you acquire the language.

• Find a textbook or two
• Check out your local library
• Explore our vocabulary lists and social network
• Search for and subscribe to a new podcast in your target language
• Research classes available with good instructors

In my experience, it is nice to have various resources available to find out what you find helpful. Eventually, you should stick with a routine and plan with a set handful of resources, but it is okay to explore to see what works for you.

Establish a Timeline

This ties back in with the first step of setting your goals, but it is a good idea to figure out a reasonable timeline for you to achieve your goals. I recommend thinking in terms of days, weeks, months, and years. During your weekly schedule, how much time can you set aside each day to work on your goals? Find achievable goals that you can work towards and accomplish each month. Think about what you want to do over the next 3-months, 6-months, and 1-year. How can that help you aim towards a goal that may take two or three years to realize? Be realistic and specific. But also be inspired!

You can accomplish your dream goals if you work on the small things consistently over time. Try it out! Make your study plan. Track your progress. Refine your skills and reassess your abilities and goals. Keep going. You can do it! 頑張ります

SAGE

• Set your Goals
• Assess your Strengths and Weaknesses
• Gather Resources
• Establish a Timeline