Learning any new language comes with motivational challenges. Whether you’re learning a foreign language for fun, work, or other personal reasons, obstacles can affect your determination to keep going. However, it’s important to understand how to maintain your motivation to learn a language over time.

Understand your ‘why’

Your reason for learning a new language is the spark that ignites your motivational fire. Maybe you want to communicate with family living abroad, impress during a job interview, or simply understand the lyrics of your favorite K-pop band. Whatever it is, understanding your ‘why’ will help you maintain your motivation to learn a language for years to come.

Set realistic goals and reward yourself for achieving them

Okay, now you know your ‘why’, but how exactly do you plan to achieve it? Setting realistic goals is a key step in maintaining motivation. Don’t try to learn the entire language overnight. Instead, set small, achievable milestones and reward yourself for reaching them. This way, as you progress gradually, you’ll enjoy the journey and sustain your motivation to learn a language over time.

Use a variety of learning materials

Reading textbooks for hours can be boring and demotivating. That’s why using diverse learning materials can lead to better results. Movies, music, games, apps — all of these can be your allies in learning. With these tools, learning becomes more engaging, fun, and you’re more likely to keep your motivation to learn a language.

Join a language learning community

Group learning can be an additional source of motivation. By joining a community of language learners, you have the chance to share experiences, problems, and successes with others. You can create a motivation group with people who have similar goals. Sharing your achievements and struggles with others can break the monotony of studying and help maintain your motivation to learn a language.

I hope these strategies help you maintain your language learning motivation in the long run. No matter how difficult it may seem at the beginning, don’t forget your ‘why’ — and remember that every step, even the smallest one, brings you closer to your goal.