How to build your momentum after taking some time off learning a language. Here are some suggestions: 

I have been learning Turkish on and off for about 9 months. It has been a journey through my motivations behind learning this language. When you’re outside of the language community it can be really challenging to make progress. I think the biggest challenge getting started after some time away from the language. You might have forgotten somethings and that can be especially discouraging. Here are some of my top suggestions to get back on your feet and back to learning! 

Reignite Your Motivation: Think about why you started learning in the first place. Revisit your initial goals or find new reasons to learn. Maybe watch a movie in the language you were learning or listen to music to remind yourself of what you enjoy about it.

Start Small and Be Consistent: Don’t try to jump back in where you left off with intense study sessions. Begin with small, manageable activities you enjoy, like Duolingo lessons, listening to a short podcast, or reviewing some flashcards for just 10-15 minutes a day. Consistency is key.

Review What You Already Know: Spend some time going over previously learned material. This will help rebuild your confidence and reactivate your knowledge base. You might be surprised at how much you still remember.

Find Engaging Content: Immerse yourself in content you find genuinely interesting in your target language. This could be TV shows, movies, music, books, or social media accounts. Enjoying the process will make it easier to stick with it.

Connect with the Language Community: Find language exchange partners, join online forums, or attend local meetups (if available). Interacting with others who are learning or fluent in the language can provide motivation and practice opportunities.

I believe that regonizing your commitment to your language journey is the cornerstone to building success. Feeling that moment of passion after failure and internal disappointment can help reignite the fire to learn.