I am a quitter, have always been.
I have started and stopped learning Italian, Swedish, Spanish, Finnish and Ancient Greek, dived into 2-3 programming languages for a while, abandoned needlework, skiing, playing the piano, the violin and the guitar, and probably a multitude of other hobbies that I have meanwhile forgotten. After studying and graduating, I lost interest in chemistry, food science, pharmaceutical biology and environmental law. I changed jobs thrice and careers twice.
When I lose enthusiam, I try to find out why: If the loss is caused by the subject itself, I see no reason in pursing it any further. Interests and priorities in life may change. I see no added value to continue with something just for the sake of it (as long as I do not abandon someone, but that is outside the scope of the question anyway I believe). It has enriched my life for sure, and I do not regret stopping anything; it has freed up resources to focus on the things that I really love.
I admit there is one downside though: I have never learned discipline. There are some things in life that just need pursuing even if you are not thrilled about them (health is an important example); I have to fight extra hard to live healthy because I am not used to do stuff I don't love.
When I lose enthusiam...
- Suzie
- Yellow Belt
- Posts: 83
- Joined: Mon Jul 20, 2015 9:53 am
- Languages: German (N), English (C-ish), French (B-ish), Dutch (B1)
- Language Log: https://forum.language-learners.org/vie ... 040#p70040
- x 440
- księżycowy
- Blue Belt
- Posts: 659
- Joined: Fri Aug 25, 2017 3:26 pm
- Location: Earth
- Languages: *Native*
English
*Studying*
Biblical Greek, Hebrew, German (Arabic)
*Waiting List*
Irish, Polish, Lithuanian, Italian, Modern Greek, Latin, Old English, Japanese, Korean, Chinese (Mandarin, Cantonese, Taiwanese), Vietnamese, Mongolian, Tibetan, Aramaic, Amharic, Arabic, Haitian Creole, Cayuga - Language Log: https://forum.language-learners.org/vie ... 15&t=17499
- x 1505
Re: When I lose enthusiam...
Generally, I tend to try and push through. Keyword: try. This, however, tends to peter out and leads to a break. So I wasn't sure which to pick between "toughen up" and "lighten up".
3 x
Dead Log
Modern European Log
East Asian Log
Assimil German :
Modern German Pronunciation 2e (Hall) :
[Greek and Hebrew TBD]
Modern European Log
East Asian Log
Assimil German :
Modern German Pronunciation 2e (Hall) :
[Greek and Hebrew TBD]
-
- Green Belt
- Posts: 282
- Joined: Sun Jan 02, 2022 6:01 am
- Languages: English (N), German (strong receptive, weak active), Persian (novice), American sign language (novice)
- x 674
Re: When I lose enthusiam...
rdearman wrote:When the going gets tough, the tough go fishing.
While listening to audiobooks in your target language, right? WINNING!
Every time I've noticed my passion for language study starting to ebb, I've realized that it's not language study per se that I'm weary of; it's the particular material I'm reading or listening to. If a story or podcast would annoy me in English, then of course I'll find it more annoying in German because I'm putting in extra effort just to be annoyed. I can't concentrate when I'm constantly thinking, "This crap is absolutely not worth this level of focus and dedication."
11 x
Das Leben ist ein langer, roter Fluss
Die Klinge ist mein Segelboot
Die Klinge ist mein Segelboot
- jeff_lindqvist
- Black Belt - 3rd Dan
- Posts: 3167
- Joined: Sun Aug 16, 2015 9:52 pm
- Languages: sv, en
de, es
ga, eo
---
fi, yue, ro, tp, cy, kw, pt, sk - Language Log: viewtopic.php?f=15&t=2773
- x 10598
Re: When I lose enthusiam...
I miss these options:
I usually don't devote time to just one target language.
- Take a break
- It depends
- (and possibly) Any of the above
- (or even) All of the above
I usually don't devote time to just one target language.
11 x
Leabhair/Greannáin léite as Gaeilge:
Ar an seastán oíche:Oileán an Órchiste
Duolingo - finished trees: sp/ga/de/fr/pt/it
Finnish with extra pain :
Llorg Blog - Wiki - Discord
Ar an seastán oíche:
Duolingo - finished trees: sp/ga/de/fr/pt/it
Finnish with extra pain :
Llorg Blog - Wiki - Discord
- zenmonkey
- Black Belt - 2nd Dan
- Posts: 2528
- Joined: Sun Jul 26, 2015 7:21 pm
- Location: California, Germany and France
- Languages: Spanish, English, French trilingual - German (B2/C1) on/off study: Persian, Hebrew, Tibetan, Setswana.
Some knowledge of Italian, Portuguese, Ladino, Yiddish ...
Want to tackle Tzotzil, Nahuatl - Language Log: viewtopic.php?f=15&t=859
- x 7032
- Contact:
Re: When I lose enthusiam...
Totally depends on need, subject, and long-term goals.
I often look for ways to find new enthusiasm by changing how I carry out my activity, failing that I take breaks.
I often look for ways to find new enthusiasm by changing how I carry out my activity, failing that I take breaks.
2 x
I am a leaf on the wind, watch how I soar
- einzelne
- Blue Belt
- Posts: 804
- Joined: Sat Mar 17, 2018 11:33 pm
- Languages: Russan (N), English (Working knowledge), French (Reading), German (Reading), Italian (Reading on Kindle)
- x 2884
Re: When I lose enthusiam...
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step… but if you’re planning to do it without stopping no way you will be able to make it till the end.
10 x
-
- Orange Belt
- Posts: 101
- Joined: Fri Dec 15, 2017 9:52 pm
- Languages: English (N), French (Advanced, especially reading), Spanish (Advanced), Brazilian Portuguese (Advanced), Japanese (beginner), Icelandic (just starting)
- Language Log: https://forum.language-learners.org/vie ... 15&t=17372
- x 361
Re: When I lose enthusiam...
I find I often lighten up to varying degrees. Sometimes that means admitting the book I'm trying to read is way above my level and picking another one. Sometimes it means I'm a bit burnt out on reading as a whole in that language. Other times, I find taking a break and coming back to the language after a month or two will be all I need to say, "Wait, I get this. Why on Earth was this ever a problem for me?" Of course, there are also plenty of occasions where I realize my energy would give me more enjoyment spent elsewhere, and I do just that.
2 x
Genki I:
-
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Wed Jun 08, 2022 4:29 pm
- Languages: French (N), English (N), Spanish (B2), Portuguese (B2), Russian (A2), Swedish (A1), Ukrainian (A1)
- IronMike
- Black Belt - 2nd Dan
- Posts: 2554
- Joined: Thu May 12, 2016 6:13 am
- Location: Northern Virginia
- Languages: Studying: Esperanto
Maintaining: nada
Tested:
BCS, 1+L/1+R (DLPT5, 2022)
Russian, 3/3 (DLPT5, 2022) 2+ (OPI, 2022)
German, 2L/1+R (DLPT5, 2021)
Italian, 1L/2R (DLPT IV, 2019)
Esperanto, C1 (KER skriba ekzameno, 2017)
Slovene, 2+L/3R (DLPT II in, yes, 1999) - Language Log: viewtopic.php?f=15&t=5189
- x 7266
- Contact:
Re: When I lose enthusiam...
...I read a book. Or workout. Or switch languages.
4 x
You're not a C1 (or B1 or whatever) if you haven't tested.
CEFR --> ILR/DLPT equivalencies
My swimming life.
My reading life.
CEFR --> ILR/DLPT equivalencies
My swimming life.
My reading life.
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