Simple daily habits that keep me connected to my target language.
Why I Stopped “Studying” and Started Building Habits
There was a time when I thought I had to study for hours every day to make progress in a new language.
Apps, grammar drills, podcasts — I tried them all. And while they helped a little, I never felt like I was truly improving.
Then I realized something simple: the most meaningful progress happens when I make language learning part of my life, not just my schedule.
Now, I focus on two small habits that I do almost every day:
- Journaling in my target language.
- Reading books I already know — but in that language.
Both are easy to fit into my routine, and both make me feel like I’m living with the language, not just studying it.
Journaling in My Target Language
Every morning (or sometimes at night), I sit down and write a short journal entry in my target language.
Usually just five or six sentences — what I did that day, what I’m planning for tomorrow, or how I’m feeling.
I don’t worry about writing perfectly. The goal is to get my thoughts out in the language I’m learning. When I do that, I start to think in the language instead of constantly translating in my head.
After writing, I copy what I wrote and paste it into ChatGPT.
Sometimes I use Google Sheets too, so I can track my entries over time.
I ask ChatGPT to correct my mistakes, explain why, and rewrite my text in a natural way.
Once I have the corrections, I go through them carefully, highlight the changes, and then rewrite my journal entry from scratch using the corrected version.
Rewriting helps me remember the right phrasing and grammar patterns. I’ve noticed that over time, the same mistakes stop happening — and my writing starts to sound more natural.
For me, journaling is more than just practice. It’s a daily reflection that helps me notice progress, even when I’m learning slowly.
Habit #2: Reading Familiar Books in My Target Language
The second habit that’s made a big difference is reading. But not just reading anything — I read books I already know in my target language.
Right now, I’m reading Winter der Welt (Winter of the World) by Ken Follett.
I read it years ago in English, so I already know the story. That makes it much easier to focus on the language itself.
When I read, I underline words I don’t know. I try not to stop every few seconds — I just keep reading until the end of the page. Then I go back, look up the new words using Google Translate, and write the meanings in the margins.
Over time, my book has become a mix of printed text and my own notes — a personalized language-learning notebook.
It’s a slow process, but that’s what makes it effective.
When I encounter those same words later — in movies, podcasts, or conversations — I immediately recognize them.
Reading something familiar in my target language gives me a sense of comfort and progress at the same time. It keeps me motivated because I’m enjoying the story while learning new words naturally.
Why These Two Habits Work for Me
These two habits combine comprehensible input (reading things I understand) with active output (writing and correcting my own thoughts).
I’m not just consuming the language — I’m creating with it, seeing my mistakes, and improving through real feedback.
The best part is that I can do both in less than 30 minutes a day.
Some mornings I write. Some nights I read.
It’s consistent, simple, and sustainable — which is exactly what I need to stay motivated.
Final Thoughts
Language learning doesn’t have to be overwhelming.
For me, it’s about small, meaningful habits that I can actually enjoy doing every day.
When I journal in my target language, I learn to express myself naturally. When I read books I already love, I build vocabulary in context. And when I combine the two, I notice steady progress — even when it doesn’t feel dramatic.
Fluency doesn’t come all at once.
It comes from those quiet, consistent moments — one journal entry, one book page, one new word at a time.
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