Language learning schedule

[u/GhostofReddiit]

Hello, im asking people who are learning more than 2 languages at a time, how is your schedule (as in sitting down & learning the language) ? I'd like to know because I want to take my language studies more seriously. And especially how do you fit it in with having work or being busy with life. Thank you, (TL)

[u/JJCookieMonster]

I don't have a schedule. I just spontaneously learn what I feel like learning. I prioritize my weaknesses when I'm high energy and do some fun things when I'm low energy.

[u/ajamdonut]

I do it during the morning routine so it's out of the way. It's also a nice way to wake up and be alert. 30 Minutes a day. Then on weekends spend a few hours

[u/dojibear]

Everyone is different. I am retired, and live alone. I learn language from sources on the internet. Since around 2019 I have been studying one language. I added two other not-similar languages in 2024.

My "daily schedule" is finding up to 3 different "learning activities" in each language, each day. Each activity is 8 to 15 minutes. If a video is 30 minutes long, I do it as two 15-minute halves on two days.

I have no specific plan for when to do each activity. I usually don't do all 9 back to back. I might do 2 or 3 together. Some days I don't do all 9. That's okay.

I can't help with the "busy life" part. When I had a full-time job and kids, I didn't study languages.

[u/Pwffin]

I do classes in some languages, follow self-baced courses in other, and in some I just watch stuff on youtube or do some when I feel like it.

I have two main languages that I am focusing on and then I rotate between three others depending on time and energy levels.

The important thing is to have stuff prepared so that you never waste time wondering what to do when you have some free time to study.

I also make use of little pockets of time throughout the day, eg for reading the news.

It helps to have goals that you revisit regularly.

When I was in school, I did 4 languagesat the same time, but I only did my homework and studied a bit extra if I happened to have more time that day.

[u/ComesTzimtzum]

I just pick the things I happen to have the time and the mood along the day. Sometimes it's the bare minimum, sometimes I can fit it a whole movie. I have an excel where I've listed my current resources and the ones I hope to pick when I have more room.

[u/TheBraveMotto]

I juggle three and what saved me was admitting I can’t do equal deep dives every day. I rotate by energy level, not by a rigid clock. Monday is my main language where I do actual textbook work for an hour, Tuesday is my second language but only podcasts while I meal prep, Wednesday is the third with a quick 15 min of flashcards and a tv show in the background. It sounds scattered but it’s the only way I don’t drop all three by Friday

The real trick was attaching each one to a chore I already do. Laundry folding time is listening practice now, my commute is for an app, and I keep a grammar book in the kitchen to flip through while coffee brews. If I tried to block out dedicated desk time for all of them I’d burn out in two weeks. Giving myself permission to have a “messy” system made it stick way longer than when I tried to be perfect about it

[u/GhostofReddiit → u/TheBraveMotto]

I would learn languages in between chores but im still a beginner in it that I do need to use an app for it, or need to focus on the language more before I can, for example, listen to a podcast while I do the dishes

But thats a great schedule to do, ill start dividing learning once I get to an 'upper-beginner' level

[u/Unlikely-Contest1523]

Although I'm just learning 2 languages via online courses and an app to practice more. So, invest atleast 15-30 minutes a day for each language, which is usually more than sufficient.

Apart from it, give proper time for revision. If you can find someone learning same language, you can engage with them to further improve your pronounciation or if you don't have much time, just train your AI to provide responses in languages that you're learning along with your native language. 

[u/GhostofReddiit → u/Unlikely-Contest1523]

thank you for your reply! I keep getting distracted by things around me that I cant even sit and do 30mins of language learning, I do need to start putting a timer.

[u/Weeguls]

I haven't started French yet tbh and won't be until I get further along in my German goals. But when I do, it'll look like me getting 2 hours of german in the morning before work and maybe some french 30min before bed.

[u/green_calculator]

I'm actively learning three right now, but two are for fun. So, those two I study as much or as little as I feel like. For my main language I keep a weekly study plan and make sure the other languages don't interfer. As far as the time, I usually match my language learning to my available time. If I have awhile I'll work on grammar, if not, I might do an app. 

[u/pomegranate_red]

For one of my languages I have a tutor and I’m self studying with the other language. Usually each day it’s an hour per language of active studying with maybe an additional hour or two of just listening input. I have a job where I can listen to whatever I want while I work, so the listening input happens while at work. I meet with my tutor one a week, soon to be twice a week, she gives me homework and speaking practice, and I supplement that with a bit of self studying.

All of my studying takes place in the evenings, my kids are older so they don’t need me constantly supervising them.

[u/Dangerous-Log4649]

I’m currently learning Spanish(heritage speaker b2/c1), French(b1), Italian(a1), so for my weaker languages I mainly focus on audio sentence flashcards(for like 2 hours),and I have an AI tutor for French. For Spanish since I’m trying to get to native level I just watch Spanish content for 3-4 hours a day. Then I do 100 or so anki flashcards for each(for Spanish it’s Mexican slang). Right now I’m a uber/instacart driver so I have a lot of time to do it while working.

[u/Infinite-12345 → u/Dangerous-Log4649]

3-4h you are a hero! Very inspiring☺️

[u/Dangerous-Log4649 → u/Infinite-12345]

But thank you very much best of luck on your journey.

[u/Dangerous-Log4649 → u/Dangerous-Log4649]

No it’s probably like 8 hours all together cause I do it while working. That’s just Spanish

[u/Infinite-12345 → u/Dangerous-Log4649]

That's what I call ambitious🤣👍 But don't be distracted and drive safe

[u/Dangerous-Log4649 → u/Infinite-12345]

lol thank you. It’s cause I work on yachts, and want to work in the Mediterranean next year. Knowing Spanish,Italian and French help a lot.