Setting language learning goals

Goal setting is a key element of any learning journey. After all how can we measure our progress if there is no goal in sight?

Let’s break this process into 3 main steps.

The first step is to identify your key motivation for learning the target language.

Whether to improve academic results, to climb the corporate ladder, or simply to be able to hold a conversation in the target language, our key motivation is our main goal for the learning journey.

The second step is to establish smaller goals needed to reach that ultimate achievement.

We can consider short term and long term goals. For example a long term goal might be full professional fluency, but if we are only at a beginner level it may be a while before we can reach that goal, so we need to break it down into smaller steps.

This is something that ideally would be discussed with your languages teacher or tutor at the outset of your learning journey.

The third and final step is to write a plan of action.

How will you action those short and long term goals? How will you organise your time and structure your learning? What resources are you using and how will you break down your learning into manageable chunks?

The best way to measure our progress is to clearly determine our level and to compare this with where we want to be, and the best way to achieve that progress is to set learning goals.

So what are our key takeaways?

1. Identify your primary motivation for learning the language

2. Set short and long term goals

3. Create a plan of action