One often overlooked pitfall of language learning is falling off the wagon. For whatever reason you stop studying and then don’t start again for a week, a month, a few months, a year…
This can happen when it feels like you’re not improving, or life gets in the way, or you fall into a depressive state. Whatever the reason, you stop studying Japanese for long enough that even thinking about getting back into it stresses you out.
But here are some steps you can take to get back on the horse!
Be Kind to Yourself
There have been a few times where I’ve stopped for a long time and the thought of studying again fills me with dread. I know I should study, I want to study, but when I think about all the time I’ve lost, all the things I’ve probably forgotten, all the things I need to catch up on, it makes me not want to study. Then I beat myself up for feeling this way, which makes me put off studying longer—it’s a vicious cycle.
Needless to say, no matter how many times I fell off the wagon, I got back into studying Japanese eventually. And the first step every time was forgiving myself.
If you’re in this position you need to be kind to yourself.
It’s easy to get frustrated and to beat yourself up for not doing something, but you can’t change what’s already happened, only what will happen. Beating yourself up can easily lead to worsening this vicious cycle, which in turn further lessens your motivation.
It may also help to speak to someone about how you’re feeling. External stresses might be impacting your mental wellbeing, which has a negative impact on your studies. Talk to a trusted friend, family member, or even a trained counsellor who can help you work out what internal or external roadblocks you may be facing and maybe even come up with ideas to get back into studying.
Do Something Fun
Getting back into studying after a long break can be easier said than done. Even if you want to, you’ve lost the motivation.
When I’m in these situations I try to find something really fun to reignite my excitement for learning. For me this could be reading a fun novel (something funny, short, and easy), binging some anime, or reading a bunch of manga in Japanese. This helps my brain refamiliarize with the language in a non-stressful way. It also reestablishes positive feelings (happy brain juices!) with Japanese.
If you’re a beginner learner then I suggest watching a movie or anime you enjoy. Watch it with or without subtitles and make sure it’s something you’ve seen and know you’ll have fun watching again.
Whatever your level, find something fun and in Japanese.
Start Small
Getting back into studying after a long break is like re-learning how to swim. If you jump straight in the deep end, you might hurt yourself.
To ease yourself back into studying you need to rebuild your study habits from scratch, which means starting with the smallest goal you feel comfortable with.
Start with something simple like, “review five words per day,” “study one grammar point,” “read one page/paragraph,” etc.
It’s okay to start small because you’re starting to re-build the habit.
(See How to Make Studying Japanese a Habit for more tips!)
Review Old Stuff
One of the most difficult things for me when I’m getting back into studying after a long break is where to begin. I could go from where I left off, but there’s so much I’ve forgotten in the meantime. Or I could review lower levels of Japanese, but I’ve studied those so many times already, it’s frustrating.
While it can be frustrating to review things you’ve already learned I’ve found it to be the best way to get back into studying.
It can also be motivating because it helps you realise just how much you do remember. (If you’ve forgotten more than you thought then return to point one—be kind to yourself!) If you forgot a lot, then it’s good to re-learn that material so you don’t struggle later.
The Ten Minute Rule
If after all that you’re still struggling to get back into studying on a regular basis, use the “ten minute rule.”
This is when you tell yourself, “I am allowed to quit after ten minutes!”
This is a great rule in general, when you’re struggling to start something, give yourself permission to stop doing it after ten minutes. Sometimes you’ll stop (which is fine!) and sometimes you’ll keep going. Either way, even just doing something for ten minutes on a regular basis can help you get back into the swing of things.
You don’t need to start back up with an hour of study every single day. Just like above, it’s okay to start small.
How to Get Back into Studying Japanese
I’ve been struggling with my language learning in recent months (both Korean and Japanese) because of work and other commitments. But after removing some commitments and identifying the stressors in my life, I feel better about studying again.
It’s difficult to convince myself to get back into my Anki vocabulary when I’ve forgotten so many, so I’m restarting from lower levels and reviewing them one step at a time. It feels great when I remembered a word, and not so great when I don’t. But I know it’s important to re-learn those words. Forgiving myself and giving myself permission to quit after ten minutes really has helped a lot!
If you’re struggling, I hope these tips help and you’re able to find something to re-motivate your language studies.
Other Articles You Might Find Useful
How to Teach Yourself Japanese Through Anime and Manga
Finding Your Motivation to Study Japanese
Why It’s Important to Speak Japanese Early On
Recommended Podcasts for Japanese Learners
Passive and Active Memory – Turn Passive Learning into Active Use!