Why You're Not Learning Your Target Language (it's not just "not having time"!)

I constantly hear people say they don't have time to learn a new language-- I've even been guilty of it myself! But chances are time isn't the only thing holding you back from making progress in your target language(s). Here are 5 reasons you might not be studying.
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✨About/FAQ
↳ Hi! I’m Abigail (she/they). I love learning languages and using them to live a multilingual life. I post videos sharing my honest experience learning, improving, and maintaining multiple languages, and tips and advice based on the things I've learned along the way. My goal is to create a supportive community of people who love languages and the things we can do with them as much as I do! My current languages-- English (native), French, German, Spanish, Italian, Bulgarian, American Sign Language.
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✨ Chapters
00:00 Introduction
01:14 Taking On Too Much
02:19 Low Energy and Burnout
05:43 You Don't Want Too
07:17 You're Forgetting
08:20 Procrastination and Perfectionism
11:33 Outro
✨ Disclaimer
↳ This video is sponsored by Lingopie.

[@PumpkinSpiceFalls]

A video from you AND Linde in one day? Helt fantastisk! Honestly, this video did help, I have been putting off my Swedish studies for too long :)

[@PolyglotProgress]

I'm glad it helped! Good luck with your Swedish!!

[@joreneelanguages]

Great video! I am definitely learning to accept “something” over “the best thing” when I am feeling in a slump or procrastinating. Perfectionism will really ruin everything if you let it lol

[@PolyglotProgress]

For sure! I am so guilty of doing nothing because I can't do something exactly how I want or how I feel I need to, but then that's so much worse!

[@user-ew7cu3bh1w]

Bestie, I wasn't really studying any of my languages for about a year, since the last I saw your summer goals video in 2022. This video is somewhat of a wake-up call. So thanks, I guess

[@floraacastro]

Great video. It's a bit sad that even though we want to learn ALL the languages, we keep putting things off out of fear of failiure. love your content, specially the bulgarian related (one of my dream languages), good to see you back

[@elsa246]

Thanks for your tips ! I'm listening your videos in order to improve my English understanding and it helps me a lot !

[@PolyglotProgress]

I'm so glad to hear it! Good luck with your English!

[@daniel.mojimaki]

I can never thank you enough for doing what you do. When I feel hopeless and that maybe I should quit learning languages, your videos always inspire new life in me. Thank you, truly!

[@PolyglotProgress]

And I can't thank you enough for this comment! This was so lovely to read, I'm really touched that my videos have had that impact on you. I'm wishing you luck with all your current and future language projects!

[@AubzCelli]

Thank you for changing my perspective. ❤ Been watching you since 2018 and so happy to see you still doing what you love and making your people happy! Much love Abigail and thank you again for motivating me!😊

[@sungalaxia]

I really have been finding this out this year. At the beginning of the year I made a resolution to reach B1 in Polish, so I drew down taking other language lessons to focus on Polish. And now, what I've found is that by doing that, I've drawn down on doing things I enjoy and turned a hobby into an obligation. So now I'm working on reintegrating other languages back into my weekly routines and just really trying to do things I enjoy regardless of progress.

[@PolyglotProgress]

I've had that exact same problem! One of the many reasons I find having multiple languages in my life if beneficial is that it does help keep me from losing that love for learning, even if I'm taking one language a little more seriously.

[@CreativelyPhoenix]

This was super helpful! I’m currently dealing with major burnout. I’m a single mom working full time and going to school, and I was teetering on putting language learning to the side until I saw your video. I fall into the not enough energy and procrastination category. I don’t why we ask for perfection in ourselves that we don’t ask from others, we should grant ourselves the same grace.

[@PolyglotProgress]

I'm so glad this video helped pull you back from putting it down! What you said at the end of your comment also really resonates with me. Even though I made this video and can say these things to others it doesn't mean I don't still struggle with fighting perfectionism myself. It's always important to remember we deserve that same grace!

[@huspainmusic]

At least I'm now aware of why I'm a failure

[@PolyglotProgress]

It's revenge for all the times you've beat me at board games

[@BrainInAVat7]

Hey, good timing. I was just checking in on your channel yesterday for a bit of inspiration!

[@PolyglotProgress]

Perfect! Should be posting fairly regularly going forward too :)

[@ekulture]

I suggest watching NFKRZ’d recent video about him learning English as a Russian man. It was very motivating

[@PolyglotProgress]

I'll check it out! thanks for the recommendation :)

[@Mad_Bear94]

It's such an incredible video. It jus opened my mind out, I speak portuguese as native and I have a kind of advanced english level and intenting to learn french as third or 4th language.

[@MarchingBandsFromHome]

Yeah I don’t have time. 30 min on Insta, 30 on Twitter, 3 hours binge watching Netflix. 😅

[@francegamble1]

Lol. Yes! I just try to binge watch in my target languages.

[@MarchingBandsFromHome]

@@francegamble1 That’s what I probably should do. 😅

[@PolyglotProgress]

Very relatable lol I've been working on minimizing my screen time on my phone because of how much I've realised it affects my language learning!

[@MarchingBandsFromHome]

@@PolyglotProgress Same! Im off insta and twitter now. Trying to make more time for Japanese, reading and playing guitar. 👍🏼

[@christalakebees]

This is really helpful. Thanks for sharing.

[@PolyglotProgress]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching and commenting

[@motalenko]

What to do if I'm just super lazy...Like, I can't force myself to do anything, even the things I like😢 I'm just wasting my life...

[@ahmedaboelazm453]

On point 👌

[@sheeliekittie9298]

hi dear Abigail! I would love your words on something I've been struggling with so much. As someone like you who has learnt German, well I welcome your brutal honesty - are some people just too dumb for certain languages? This is how I feel. I thought I could make progress in German. But the grammar it's hard, the speaking isn't so bad but then I am literally terrified of the grammar and how complex it is. I would say I'm around still A2 level, but it's still soo frustrating to me, that I study and take classes on Lingoda, and I don't know what else I can do. I made an entire outline of all the topics I need to understand - everything from separable verbs to prepositions to pronouns and so on...do we sometimes have to just give up on certain languages? =/ well I truly welcome your thoughts so much xoxo Love to you always

[@PolyglotProgress]

I don't think so! I think some people find that certain features of a language may "click" a little faster for them, but I don't think that struggling with German means it's impossible for you to continue. I definitely feel like the early days were the hardest for me with German. I have a feeling as you improve you'll feel less and less frustrated by and scared of the grammar! For now though I'd say don't focus too much on everything you don't know. While that outline can be helpful, it might be making things more overwhelming right now. Spending time taking classes, reading, writing, or however else you get contact with the language will help you work on building those grammar skills over time and might feel a little less daunting than looking at a list of all the aspects of grammar you need to learn. Plus, if you're speaking you're using grammar, so remember you are already capable of making it work even if it feels like a lot right now! I'm rooting for you!!

[@sheeliekittie9298]

@@PolyglotProgress you are too kind and so motivating, THANK you Abigail! I love your mindset and attitude towards all things language learning / related. I think perhaps you are the same, you do like to feel confident in your grammar. I think my problem is a lot of comparison, like so many language learners here on youtube can portray themselves as such strong polyglots, I start to worry I'm doing everything wrong! I have to remember that I'm on my own journey with language learning. You're the best =)

[@sheeliekittie9298]

Ps I may have asked your opinion on this before. But how do you maintain multiple languages when it's not practical to study many languages all in the same day? Do you recommend focus on one language at a time?

[@PolyglotProgress]

I definitely think it depends on the person! If you would like to study multiple and feel like that isn't overwhelming within a busy schedule, you could always do something like studying certain languages on certain days instead of all in the same day.

[@sheeliekittie9298]

@@PolyglotProgress That is a great idea! I have not quite tried that. I think it could also depend on what is best for that person just as you said. I find that I need to focus on one language at a time to feel I'm making progress. So I'm going to try aiming for 3 languages a month, i mean, not different ones lol, that would be 36 languages!! far too much for me anyway. =) but I will rotate, so maybe 3 one month, 3 the next, and keep that pattern. I'm curious to know, what languages are you currently studying or working on now? Thank you again for your comments and replies, they mean a lot to me!

[@SPEAKENGLISHWITHGEORGE]

[@nanniharcrow8567]

😌 Promo`SM

[@Danpungip]

you have nice eyes