The benefits of learning a new language are endless: access to a whole other worldview, community, and an expansion of our identities in a way that is truly enriching and encouraging. As language learners, we are indeed lucky to be able to live in times where so many language resources are available to anyone with an internet connection. Films, podcasts, books and apps are great ways to build a well-rounded routine that can help us achieve our goals.

That said, having all types of interesting methods can be overwhelming, and if we are not mindful of how we structure our goals, it can lead to us giving up altogether. Establishing SMART goals is a great way to organize your language routine, manage your expectations and make your language journey enjoyable. Here are some tips that can fine-tune your language learning routine for 2021.

Set SMART language goals

What is SMART?

SMART is an acronym for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound. It is a goal-setting framework that can add structure to your language routine and keep you accountable.

Non-SMART goal examples:

become fluent in Spanishspeak

Spanish every dayspeak

English less

SMART goal examples:

have a conversation about food in Spanish in two weekshave a Spanish vocabulary of 1000 words by Aprilpass A2 level in Spanish in 6 months time 

 Specific

SMART goals can support our language routine by being specific. Making a specific goal increases the chances that it will be realized. Research suggests that vague goals “make people so anxious to succeed that they scramble to discover strategies in an unsystematic way and hence fail to learn what is effective.” Vague goals such as ‘become fluent in Spanish’ are not specific enough to inspire the learner to action. Specific goals such as 'pass my A2 level Spanish exam in 6 months’ gives a clear direction to the learner, it also gives them a picture of what success looks like when that goal is met. Specific goals also keep us consistent and allow us to make adjustments to our language study.

Measurable

SMART goals can support our language routine by being measurable. Making our goals measurable means that we can identify what achievement looks like. Metrics can give us an accurate picture of whether we have achieved our goal and can help us adjust our language strategy accordingly. For example, if you set a goal to know 1000 Spanish words by April, as opposed to ‘learn more Spanish words,’ even if you only achieve 800 Spanish words, you are more likely to persevere because the metric acts as proof that you are progressing. Additionally, you can establish a new goal of 500 new words if you want to motivate yourself further.

Attainable

SMART goals can support your language routine by being attainable. Setting attainable language goals can keep you from giving upon them. It is unrealistic to expect yourself to be fluent in three months because a polyglot you saw on YouTube did it, which can only add needless pressure to your routine.  The feeling of discouragement can be overwhelming when you fail to reach an immense goal, so why put yourself through that?Setting 'sub-goals' can ease the pressure of attaining a big goal and give learners a sense of accomplishment. Divide your main goal into smaller chunks called sub-goals. For example,  If your main goal is to learn 1000 additional words in your target language, make a sub-goal of 200 words first.  Setting these small goals manages your expectations. As you progress you can increase the difficulty, but remember to be kind to yourself and remember to give yourself credit for achieving them.

Relevance

SMART goals can support your language routine by being relevant to your interests. Learning a language that doesn’t interest you can be painful and boring. You never obsess over grammar drills in your own language, so why do it in your target language? There are too many cool resources for you to be doing something that you lack interest in. Do the things you love in your target language; If you’re someone who enjoys cooking, try making a recipe in the target language. If you enjoy reading fashion blogs, try to read them in your target language.

Time-bound

SMART goals can support your language routine by being time-bound. Making your goals time-sensitive can give you a sense of urgency that can really drive forward your consistency and increase your chances of actually achieving them. Time-sensitive goals also encourage us to schedule and prioritize our language goals. That said, try to keep your timeline realistic and flexible try not to overwhelm yourself with a deadline that is too intense.

One last tip to supplement your language goal: have belief in yourself! Overcome negative thought patterns that doubt your language! You can do this! 

Sources: A Motivational Benefits of Goal Setting, Lambeth (2004)Why written objectives need to be really SMART, Ogbeiwi (2017)

If you would like to read more about Mexican culture, history, cuisine and language, check out our blog page for our latest monthly articles. You can also sign up to our newsletter to receive these straight to your inbox along with the latest news about our non-profit school for local and Indigenous students in Felipe Carrillo Puerto. 

The best way to experience the Mexican lifestyle is in person, with a Na’atik Immersion experience. Not only do you live with a local Mexican-Maya family, sharing home-cooked meals and free time, but also receive expert instruction in your chosen language at our school. Best of all, every immersion experience helps fund our subsidized and free local education program, helping local students to access opportunities and make their own futures.