Journaling my way to my 2024 language goals

Language Learning Glow Up - 2024

Journaling has become one of my favorite tools for planning my language goals, you have no idea how much putting your thoughts on paper (or screen) is a game-changer for your language learning journey. My language journal is the perfect spot for all my wins, struggles, and dreams to come together in one place.

On Instagram I have just started my series called “Language Learning Glow Up - 2024” and the first step introduced is… *drum rolls* journaling, of course! So, I am now inviting you to take a look at my answers, so welcome to my Polyglot Diary!

Highlight the accomplishments of your language learning journey in 2023

Although I haven’t reached any big goals in 2023, I think I gained a lot of clarity about what kind of language journey I would like to embrace. Have you ever heard of the concept of “reconnecting to your inner child”? Well, that’s the key concept. I started thinking about the start of my language journey, and how I improved my English skills when I was a teenager. All of a sudden I realized that the academic setting had almost completely canceled the will to learn languages, I needed to go back to my roots.

What made you feel the most passionate and accomplished of your 2023 language learning journey?

Immersion and entertaining resources are now my north star, what I research in my language journey. Slow pace, but I prefer prioritizing fun over anything else. Starting reading shoujo manga in Japanese, was my #1 highlight of my linguistic 2023.

Oh, and also the trip to Shanghai to Kokuyo staff, who was made of basically all Japanese native speakers, helped me realize that I always underestimate my skills and that I freaking love the Japanese language.

What drained you the most of your 2023 language learning journey?

Textbooks that focus more on mnemonics, and with a layout that doesn’t make me feel engaged with what I am studying.

What made you feel stuck in your 2023 language learning journey?

Not managing my time and energy wisely.

What is one thing you needed in this polyglot 2023 that you were not able to give to yourself consistently?

Vocab studies, I struggle a lot with memorizing vocabulary and the strategy that works best for me the best in the long run is flashcards + immersion, but I rarely go through flashcards because I hate making my decks.

How can you change your study environment to better reflect your future direction in your 2024 language learning journey?

I think that more than my physical ambiance because I think I have improved it a lot lately, it’s my digital space that requires more attention. I need to find the best resources for learning vocabulary, especially flashcard-related, and create a digital hub on Notion.

I also think that the perfect language journal + planner doesn’t exist, so.. who knows… I would like to keep track of my progress and my aspirations in a better way because I usually forget what I did! potential ADHD brain here hehe…

What is one action or routine that you want to include in your daily language learning journey?

Flashcards, indeed.

What are some of the scariest aspects you want to fight or overcome that will allow you to stretch out of your comfort zone for your 2024 language learning journey?

If I have to be honest, I would like to sign up for the JLPT N2 test, but it scares the hell out of me for its difficulty. I already wanted to do it in 2023, but changing jobs and other personal problems affected me much more than I thought. Besides that, I am now not afraid of anything else anymore due to my long experience in language learning.

Hope this edition of The Polyglot Diaries will help you with your own language journaling session. Make sure to keep following the series on my Instagram account to glow up your language learning journey in 2024!

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