I'm your host Brian and today we're diving into something that affects all of us.

Staying motivated when learning something new.

Whether you're learning English, picking up a musical instrument, or trying to master cooking, keeping that motivation alive can be challenging.

By the end of this episode, you'll discover practical strategies to stay motivated and learn how others overcome their learning challenges.

Before we jump into our conversation, let's think about why motivation is so important.

Did you know that roughly 80% of New Year's resolutions fail by February?

That's often because people lose their motivation.

Today, we'll hear from Sarah, a language teacher, and Mike, a business professional who recently learned Japanese.

They'll share their experiences and insights about maintaining motivation during the learning journey.

Before we start our conversation, take a moment to think about...

What's the longest you've stuck with learning something new?

What usually causes you to give up when learning something?

What strategies have worked for you in staying motivated?

Today, I'm joined by Sarah Thompson, who has been teaching languages for over 10 years, and Mike Chen, who successfully learned Japanese while working full-time.

Welcome to you both.

Thanks for having us, Brian.

I'm excited to share some insights from both teaching and learning perspectives.

Great to be here.

Can't wait to share my journey of learning Japanese.

Let's dive right in.

Mike, what made you decide to learn Japanese, and how did you keep your motivation up?

Well, I'll level with you, Brian.

At first, I was just interested in anime and Japanese culture.

But as I dove deeper, I realized I wanted to do business with Japanese companies.

That gave me a concrete goal to work towards.

That's such a crucial point, having a clear purpose.

I've noticed my students who stick with it are the ones who can visualize their end goal. But I'll be honest, there were times when I felt like throwing in the towel, especially when dealing with kanji characters.

How did you push through those moments?

I broke it down into smaller, manageable chunks.

Instead of thinking, I need to learn thousands of characters, I focused on learning five new ones each day.

It made it less overwhelming.

That's what I call bite-sized learning.

It's like climbing a mountain.

You don't look at the peak, you focus on the next step.

That's fascinating.

Sarah, from your teaching experience, what are some common motivation killers?

The biggest one is when students bite off more than they can chew.

They try to go from zero to hero overnight, burn themselves out, and then give up.

It's crucial to set realistic expectations.

I can relate to that.

I initially tried studying for three hours after work every day.

I was burning the candle at both ends, and it wasn't sustainable. It's better to study for 30 minutes consistently than to crash and burn after a week of intensive study.

What strategies would you recommend for maintaining long-term motivation?

For me, tracking my progress was key.

I used an app to create a streak, and I didn't want to break it.

Also, finding a language exchange partner kept me on my toes.

Yes, accountability is huge.

I also recommend my students celebrate small wins.

Did you learn five new words today?

That's worth celebrating.

It's about building momentum.

Another thing that helped was switching things up.

Some days, I'd watch Japanese shows.

Other days, I'd read manga or practice writing.

It kept things fresh and interesting.

That's what we call varied learning approaches.

It not only maintains interest, but also helps develop different language skills.

Those are excellent points.

Any final advice for our listeners?

Remember that motivation isn't just about willpower.

It's about creating systems and habits that set you up for success.

And don't be afraid to take a breather when needed.

And find your why.

When you have a strong reason for learning something, it's easier to push through the tough times.

Hey there, English learners.

Let's break down some of the interesting expressions we heard in today's conversation.

I'll explain each one and show you exactly how our guests use them.

One, level with you.

Hey folks, let me break this down for you.

When Mike said, I'll level with you, Brian, he was preparing to be completely honest about his learning journey.

It's like saying, I'm going to be totally straight with you.

We use this when we want to be particularly honest or direct with someone.

Two, dive deeper.

You heard Mike use this one when talking about his initial interest in Japanese.

To dive deeper means to explore something more thoroughly.

Like when you're not satisfied with just scratching the surface.

Think of it like actually diving into a pool versus just dipping your toes in.

Three, stick with it.

Sarah used this phrase when talking about her successful students who stick with it.

It means to persevere or continue doing something even when it gets tough.

In the conversation, she specifically said, students who stick with it are the ones who can visualize their end goal.

It's like glue.

You're stuck to your goal and won't let go.

Four, throw in the towel.

Here's an interesting one.

Mike mentioned feeling like throwing in the towel when learning kanji.

This boxing metaphor means to give up or quit.

Just like in boxing, when a team throws a towel into the ring, they're giving up the fight.

But remember, Mike didn't actually throw in the towel.

He found a way to push through.

Five, break it down.

You heard Mike say he broke it down into smaller manageable chunks.

This means to divide something big into smaller parts.

Instead of trying to eat a whole cake at once, you're taking it one slice at a time.

Smart strategy, right?

Now, wasn't that fun?

These expressions make English so colorful and interesting.

Try using one or two of these in your conversations this week.

Remember, the best way to learn these phrases is to use them in context.

Time to test your understanding.

Remember, I'll reveal the answers at the end of the episode.

One, according to Mike, what was his initial motivation for learning Japanese?

A, business opportunities.

B, anime and Japanese culture.

C, travel plans.

Two, what did Sarah say was the biggest motivation killer?

A, lack of time.

B, trying to learn too much too quickly.

C, not having clear goals.

Three, which strategy did Mike use to track his progress?

A, writing in a journal.

B, using an app to create a streak.

C, recording himself speaking.

Today, I'm joined by Sarah Thompson, who has been teaching languages for over 10 years, and Mike Chen, who successfully learned Japanese while working full-time.

Welcome to you both.

Thanks for having us, Brian.

I'm excited to share some insights from both teaching and learning perspectives.

Great to be here.

Can't wait to share my journey of learning Japanese.

Let's dive right in.

Mike, what made you decide to learn Japanese, and how did you keep your motivation up?

Well, I'll level with you, Brian.

At first, I was just interested in anime and Japanese culture.

But as I dove deeper, I realized I wanted to do business with Japanese companies.

That gave me a concrete goal to work towards.

That's such a crucial point, having a clear purpose.

I've noticed my students who stick with it are the ones who can visualize their end goal.

Exactly.

But I'll be honest, there were times when I felt like throwing in the towel, especially when dealing with kanji characters.

How did you push through those moments?

I broke it down into smaller, manageable chunks.

Instead of thinking, I need to learn thousands of characters, I focused on learning five new ones each day.

It made it less overwhelming.

That's what I call bite-sized learning.

It's like climbing a mountain.

You don't look at the peak, you focus on the next step.

That's fascinating.

Sarah, from your teaching experience, what are some common motivation killers?

The biggest one is when students bite off more than they can chew.

They try to go from zero to hero overnight, burn themselves out, and then give up.

It's crucial to set realistic expectations.

I can relate to that.

I initially tried studying for three hours after work every day.

I was burning the candle at both ends, and it wasn't sustainable.

Exactly.

It's better to study for 30 minutes consistently than to crash and burn after a week of intensive study.

What strategies would you recommend for maintaining long-term motivation?

For me, tracking my progress was key.

I used an app to create a streak, and I didn't want to break it.

Also, finding a language exchange partner kept me on my toes.

Yes, accountability is huge.

I also recommend my students celebrate small wins.

Did you learn five new words today?

That's worth celebrating.

It's about building momentum.

Another thing that helped was switching things up.

Some days I'd watch Japanese shows.

Other days I'd read manga or practice writing.

It kept things fresh and interesting.

That's what we call varied learning approaches.

It not only maintains interest, but also helps develop different language skills.

Those are excellent points.

Any final advice for our listeners?

Remember that motivation isn't just about willpower.

It's about creating systems and habits that set you up for success.

And don't be afraid to take a breather when needed.

And find your why.

When you have a strong reason for learning something, it's easier to push through the tough times.

How can you apply the bite-sized learning approach to your current goals?

What's your why for learning English?

Which of the strategies discussed today resonates most with you?

Hint, think about your daily routine and how you can incorporate small learning moments throughout your day.

Now, let's reveal those quiz answers.

Don't forget to download your free PDF vocabulary list.

Remember, learning is a journey, not a race.

Keep practicing, stay motivated, and join us for another exciting episode of English on the Go.

As we always say, learn everywhere, speak everywhere. you