Studying a language is like going to the gym. You can't go to the gym once in a while and expect great results, just as you can't just take a few language classes and be fluent. Just as you need to go to the gym consistently, to reach your goals you need to study your target language as much as possible. Here are a few ways you can plan your own self-study schedule, so you can reach those goals.
First, decide how much time you can study every day. Start small. It's easier to do 5 to 10 minutes a day, than it is to study for 1 hour. Make studying a habit you can see yourself doing for a long time. Language learning takes years, and you want to be able to keep practicing. Later, you can increase your daily time to 15 to 20 minutes a day.
Next, decide what to do each day. Outside of class, you should practice things you can't do in a class, like reading or listening, or writing. I often tell students to try reading and listening to the language every day, as this is great for vocabulary and grammar, as well as understanding. But, if you can't do both every day, try mixing it up. Read one day, watch a video the next day, then maybe practice a grammar point. The goal is to be exposed to the language as much as possible.
Finally, keep track of when you study. You can make a note of it on your calender, or have a checklist that you complete each time you finish studying. This will help you remember to study, and it's great to look back and see how much you have done.
I hope this article has been helpful to you. Learning a language is an incredible experience, and can change your future. I hope that you can use some of these suggestions to make learning a daily habit, and an enjoyable part of your life.
