The Flex Language Learner Schedule

Creating a Flexible Schedule for Learning languages

If you’re anything like me, you’ve found it difficult to commit to regular study sessions each day or even continue with the same book or app for extended periods of time.

Allow me to introduce you to the flexible schedule for learning multiple languages:

The concept is simply to build a structure of minimum study time and techniques on a weekly basis and select activities that you must do and may do.

I’ll use my own schedule as an example:

Must Do

Practice Mandarin, French, and Spanish language every week 5+ hours each
Required coursework for Chinese and French college courses
Meet with tutors for speaking practice in Mandarin, French, and Spanish

May Do

Grammar workbook or reading for French in addition to classes
Duolingo or workbook practice for Chinese in addition to classes
Reading short stories/novels or journaling/writing for Spanish

Will Do

Meanwhile, I dabble - sometimes just think about dabbling - in Japanese, Arabic, and a 7th surprise language that has been whispering out to me. . .

These languages, I’m not actively practicing and am not concerned about how soon I learn or how I learn them. I just know that I’m attracted to them, and I spend time with them when I can.

Why the Flexible Schedule Works

We are constantly changing beings, and it’s unrealistic to expect that the exact same routine every day, week, month, year will always work - it won’t. It shouldn’t work because we shouldn’t have the same learning needs as we did the last year or even the last month. We should always be approaching a new & unfamiliar level, hence the need to be flexible as we walk constantly through unchartered language waters.

Flexibility only works so long as there is structure. We need minimums and maximums to contain our flexibility, and so long as we stretch within our limits, we progress toward our language learning goals.

Creating Your Own Flexible Schedule

The beauty of the flexible schedule is that don’t have to eliminate any of your language interests - only categorize them:

What are your core languages? These are your must learn languages that you’ll build into your must do’s each week.
What are your dabbling languages? These are your may do languages for your free time when you finish your study hours for your core languages.
How much time do you have to dedicate to your language study each week? Be realist about how many hours you can spend each week. It’s best to use a range here, like 15 hours on a good week and 3 hours on a hectic week.
What are study techniques that you can guarantee you will do? These are ways you can ensure that you make progress in a language like taking a class, scheduling regular meetings with a tutor, or any other way you can hold yourself accountable. Keep your minimum and maximum study hours in mind when scheduling these.
What are activities you can do independently that support your language learning? This type of studying can be grammar workbooks, reading, journaling, etc.

Using your core languages, make a list of must do’s & may do’s and start building your flexible schedule around it. I realize the abstract nature of the flexible schedule can make it quite challenging to first time around, so please feel free to post your schedule ideas in the comments below. I’d be happy to take a look and provide feedback to help you out❤

Book recommendations are books I’ve read that I felt drawn to share with you as I created this blog post. These are affiliate links from Amazon. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases❤