Transcription
Do you ever wish learning a language was faster? Research shows that a simple writing habit could be the secret to help you unlock fluency. I was pessimistic, but since starting, it's fixed problems in my Spanish I didn't even know I had. So, in this video, I'm going to show you exactly why it's so effective, the easy way to get started, and how you can use AI to supercharge the process. Let's start with the surprising benefits.
So, to learn a language, you absolutely have to get a lot of exposure. But that constant immersion can lead you to feeling a little bit overstimulated. So after months of soaking up Spanish through YouTube, podcast, and reading, I wanted to slow down as well as improve my speaking. And to be honest, I just wanted to spend less time staring at a screen. The antidote I found was starting to journal every day.
Now, first off, I had never journaled in any language before. So, if you're thinking this isn't for me, I would have thought exactly the same, but the benefits are incredible. I started trying to fill a page with whatever random thoughts I had in Spanish. You can take your time and try to find those words that aren't always there at the tip of your tongue in a conversation. And pretty quickly, I noticed that my speaking started getting better, too.
So, why is writing so effective? Well, first slowing down and actually thinking about what you want to say helps you to remember it better. So in the research there's a thing called depth of processing which basically means the more you think about a language the more it gets ingrained. Instead of just recognizing words you're actually pulling them out of your memory so that they're ready when you need them. That extra effort reinforces your new language.
Writing also helps you connect new words to things you already know. something called elaborative rehearsal which is known to boost learning. All of those individual connections help us with storing new words and phrases as well as using them later on. And I found just writing about my life, my my thoughts, my feelings naturally reinforces new words as I try to use them in different context.
And on top of all of that, there's evidence that writing really can help your speaking. So when writing, you're forced to find the words you need and put them together to convey whatever meaning you want. That's exactly what you do when you speak. And in fact, speaking and writing activate the same parts of your brain linked to language production. Now, it's an oversimplification to say they're exactly the same. But research shows that generally the same neural networks are involved proving how powerful writing is.
And definitely from my own experience, there have been words and phrases that I've used when speaking with people that I remembered much easier because I'd deliberately been trying to use them when I journal. And on top of that, when you're writing, there isn't the same time pressure as a conversation. So you can take your time and find the words you need and try and nail all the grammar. So weirdly, writing will actually help you speak better.
And by the way, if you want a simple guide with prompts to get you started, I've created a free download which you can get with the code on screen or just use the link in the description. So I break down the process and provide some simple things you can do to make the most of every session. So before we look at the steps you can follow, there is a mindset shift that helped me get started and stay consistent.
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So I'll be honest, writing and journaling never really interested me before. On top of that, what do you write about? What if you don't have anything to say? Well, there were a couple of mindset shifts that really, really helped me. The first is that journaling or any kind of writing, it isn't a test. You don't have to get everything perfect. And in fact, making mistakes is actually a good thing. That's how you learn.
So, if you have that inbuilt perfectionism, think of writing as play. You're experimenting and seeing what works for you. If I'm not sure if something's right or not, I just try it out just to find out. I'd much rather stay in the flow instead of getting stuck looking up the exact way to say something. So, I put things down as best I can. And when I get feedback, I'll find out for next time.
So, the whole point is that you want to be able to express yourself freely in the language you're learning. And to do that, you've got to try things out and see how it goes. Over time, you'll notice the progress you've made. I've definitely had moments where I tried something one day and then a few days later I remembered what I'd learned and put it into practice.
The other thing that is super important is that writing shouldn't feel like something that you have to do. But if you actively engage with it, you'll start to find it really interesting. Like I won't always know what I think about something until I start getting my thoughts down. And if you're anything like me, you're probably really busy and don't often have much time to stop and reflect about your plans or even experiences.
Honestly, I've ended up being my own unofficial therapist just by taking time to work through my thoughts on paper. Now, you don't have to go that deep. You might just want to talk about your plans for the weekend. But once you start, you'll end up using all sorts of vocabulary that might never come up in a chat with your tutor. And so apart from helping you to learn a language, journaling can help you to manage your stress and help you process your own thoughts.
And remember, you can adjust this however you want. Maybe instead of journaling, you're imagining you're writing a letter to a friend or simply just getting some plans down on the page so that they're they're out of your head. So avoid perfectionism and focus on what interests you. With that in mind, let's look at how to get started.
So, when I first started, honestly, I had no idea what to write. I just wanted to give it a go. But the more I did it, the easier it got. And now, I actually look forward to starting my day with a cup of tea whilst I journal. So, no matter what happens after that, I know I've already spent some quality time with my Spanish.
So, if you want to try this yourself, remember that when creating a new habit, the key is to start small. Short, regular sessions are way better than the occasional brain dump. Just build it up over time rather than feeling overwhelmed. But looking at a blank page or note on your laptop can be daunting at first. So, here's a simple way to make it easier.
Write the date at the top and then with your first session, set a timer for 15 minutes. Jot down whatever you can. It doesn't have to be perfect and you'll definitely make mistakes, but that's the whole point. It's in those moments where you learn and I'll talk about feedback in a minute. When the timer is up, finish your sentence and congratulate yourself on trying something new. Of course, you can write for longer if you want, but starting small is a great way to go.
So, personally, I prefer to write by hand. It is slower, but I like to avoid starting my day staring at a screen. More than that though, there is some evidence that writing by hand makes you process the language more deeply and might actually help you in storing or reinforcing the new words and phrases. And honestly, I just prefer it. The tactile sensation of pen and paper just feels way more chilled for me. And there are no distractions like other browser tabs or whatever.
If you'd rather type though, that is totally fine. Just be mindful that it will autocorrect things for you. Normally that's a good thing but I want those little mistakes so I can learn say I don't know where an accent marker might go or a particular spelling or conjugation because that helps me to notice and remember them. It's your journey though and by keeping things digitally you can involve other tools or if you're learning a language with say a different script like Chinese do not be a hero. Digital is probably the way to go. You can always go analog down the line if you really want.
If you need a bit of inspiration, there are a few prompts I can give you to get you started. So, try yesterday I or I would love to or recently I've been thinking about obviously write them in your target language. I'll put some more prompts in the free download, but you can write about your goals, your plans for the weekend, or even where you see yourself in five years. Honestly, I've been blown away by how powerful a pen and a piece of paper can be.
If you are more of a beginner, do not worry at all. Keep the sessions short and write whatever you can. So, some simple prompts are something like, I'm studying French because I want to. Just lots of short simple sentences like that will get you going. Just do your best.
You can also steal the hack that I use to make those short sentences more natural and flow better. So actually when I write I have a print out of connectors sitting in front of me. Things like on the other hand so for example all in Spanish of course I try not to look at the sheet but if I need a reminder I can quickly just glance over and add whatever I need. I found I need the sheet less and less over time, but more than that, I've started using the same phrases on conversations to sound a bit more polished.
And whilst we're talking about words, try and work with the ones you know, of course, but it's totally fine to look up vocabulary if you need to. And that's actually a good thing as it will be words specific to you and your life. So, you'll pick up new words and phrases that are super relevant for you. DPL, Google Translate, pretty much any AI are all absolutely fine for this. Don't overthink it. And if you want, you can underline the new words or put them in bold if you've gone digital. It will make it clear which words you've looked up and serves as a little reminder to try and use them again in the future.
So, that is getting started. Next, I'll show you a couple of simple steps you can add to journaling that will make it even more effective.
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Okay, so here is a simple system you can follow which I found super helpful. I actually do a bit more than these steps these days, but to keep things straightforward, let's just stick to the basics. This is how I got started and it really works. So for me, this is the first thing I do when I wake up in the morning. Life happens and sometimes if you plan on doing it later, later might never come. That said, it does need to fit your routine, so do what's best and works for you.
Now, it's not mandatory, but before I get started, I make a cup of tea. I am British and I cannot function without it. I know it sounds silly, but if you associate writing with a comfortable, familiar routine, you're way more likely to stick with it. Feeling relaxed will also let things flow more. If you're stressed or anxious, that's going to stop your brain firing up in the way that you want it to. So, as well as a cuper, I also have some water to hand to keep hydrated and keep my brain firing on all cylinders. And then it's time to sit down and start writing.
So, at the minute, I aim for about two pages a day in an A5 notebook. So, you can do more if you want, but I found just a couple of pages gives me enough time for the steps that come later. So, literally write whatever comes to mind, but if you're stuck, you can use those prompts you can download if you need a hand to get started. And you can write for as long as you want. If you're just starting out, keep it short and fun. This should not feel like a chore. That way, you'll come back to it the next day, and that consistent habit is how you make progress.
Next, this is something that I've added recently, but it's actually really useful. Once you've finished writing, go back and reread what you've written and correct any mistakes that you notice. The idea being that recognizing those small mistakes you make reinforces the correct way of writing it for the future.
Now, the next step is amazing if you write by hand. If you've done it digitally, it is even more straightforward. So, I use chat GPT and I take a photo of what I've written. I then give it the prompt, "Transcribe the writing on these pages. Give me detailed corrections and tell me what my level is today." If you're writing on a device, it's even easier. Just copy and paste your text and ask for feedback.
Now, it's not perfect at reading handwriting, but it is surprisingly good. I do try and write a little bit neater though. Uh sometimes I do have to give it a correction here or there, but the fact that it can do it at all is absolutely mind-blowing. So chat GPT will give me the feedback which I'll then have a read through and then I take my trusty red pen and I go through making all of those corrections on the page. By doing it in a different color, it makes what I need to work on super obvious for next time. And remember, this isn't a test. This is you getting better.
So, here's your challenge. Start a writing habit in your target language. Let me know how you get on down in the comments below. And then next, if you want to boost your vocabulary even more, check out this video here where I show you some simple ways you can remember more words in your target language.