Is Time Management important for English learners? Check out this post and learn my 3 best time management tips for English learners! Because, believe me, you really need to use your time wisely!

hey, there!

Prix here with a new post for you! If you are reading this, you probably study English alone and you probably feel lost every now and then when it comes to time management. In this post, I will show you my best 3 tips to help you with that. So let’s get down to business.

 

1. Stick to a routine

Really, Prix? A routine? What do you mean? I will explain. I have students who are always looking for different ways to study, or different materials, or different sources, or different teachers, it is always different. What’s the problem with that? You never really stick to one material, or to one good source. You don’t give time to the exercises/sources to work and help you. If you are constantly changing the things you study or how you study, you never really know what works and what doesn’t, because you didn’t spend enough time doing that specific activity or following that specific podcast.

There are hundreds of books and apps and videos and audios, but if you are always looking for the one that is going to change your life, chances are you are never going to find it. Moreover, every time you find a new material or a new way to study, you go through the adaptation process again. That is to say, you are wasting too much time.

Build a routine and select your sources and materials wisely. Once you do that, stick to that routine and respect it. Try it for at least a month before deciding to make a change. Results don’t happen overnight. Give it some time.

 

2. Balance the skils

Everybody wants to improve their speaking, but not everyone is willing to what it takes. Most of the times, students focus on one specific activity and completely ignore the rest. They love watching series and spend way too much time doing that. Consequently, they find themselves without enough time to do other things. When it comes to improving your English you need to balance your time and dedicate yourself to different skills in order to have solid improvements on your English as a whole.  Writing, vocabulary, grammar, listening, speaking and reading are very important skills that need to be equally developed because together, they all contribute to fluency.

In tip number one, I talked about establishing a routine. Without a routine, it is nearly impossible to manage your time. Now, if your routine only includes activity A and B, it will also be hard to see consistent improvements. Balance is key!

3. Establish realistic goals

I have many clients who come to me for private classes. In the beginning, They promise me they will study every day for at least 2 hours. They are committed to learning English. While I believe they really mean it and deep inside they have very positive intentions with such promises, I know, they are being unrealistic and will likely break that promise within the first week of classes.

WHY?

Because they were unrealistic! Managing your time as an English learner works the same way as any other aspect of your life; going to the gym, reading books, going out with friends, working, traveling, etc! I would love to travel to Disney 5 times a year. But that is not possible. Firstly, because it is expensive, secondly I have no time to stop my life for a week 5 times a year. If you want to manage your time well as an English learner, you need to first respect your life priorities (work, family, health, leisure) and then include your English studies.

I am not saying English should not be a priority. Honestly, it is quite the opposite, but you need to make sure you have the right time to dedicate yourself.

My general recommendation to English learners who study alone and are having problems with time management is to dedicate themselves at least one hour a day. If you have a very hectic (very busy) life, then at least 30 minutes a day. Once you establish a realistic frequency, it is time to create a study routine. Then, as you work on your routine, divide the tasks in a way that you dedicate yourself to different English skills (writing, listening, vocabulary, reading, grammar & speaking). That way,  you will feel that with some it gets easier to sit down to study if you have really prepared yourself for it.

 

What do you think? How do you organize your time? I would love to know!

If you want to see more posts about study tips, make sure to leave me a comment with your suggestions!

 

Prix