Learning a Foreign Language: Skills and Strategies for Self-Organisation

Yuriy Ivantsiv
3 min readFeb 9, 2024

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Photo by Rawpixel on Unsplash

Learning a foreign language is an exciting and ongoing journey into a new world of culture, communication and learning. However, as with everything, it requires careful planning and self-organisation to succeed. In this article we will look at some self-organisation skills and strategies to help you learn a foreign language effectively.

1. Define your goals: Before you start learning a foreign language, it is important to define your goals and motivation. Think about what you need the language for — is it for work, travelling or personal development? Setting clear goals will help set you up for success and keep you motivated throughout the learning process.

2. Create a learning plan: Develop a structured plan that includes the main components of the language — reading, writing, speaking and listening. Allocate time to each of these components and stick to daily practice. Regularity and systematicity are important for effective learning.

3. Use a variety of sources: A variety of learning materials will help you develop different language skills. Study textbooks, read books, listen to audiobooks or podcasts, watch films in a foreign language and interact with native speakers. The more diverse sources you use, the more examples and contexts you will get.

4. Practise regularly: Regular practice is the key to mastering a foreign language. Divide your time into short study sessions that include reading, writing, speaking and listening. Take time for each aspect of the language to develop all skills at the same time.

5. Use technology and online resources: Over time, technology has made learning a foreign language more accessible. Use mobile apps, online websites, streaming videos and social media for extra practice and interesting content in a foreign language. There are apps that offer interactive exercises, games and tests, which makes the learning process more entertaining and effective.

6. Connect with native speakers: Find opportunities to practice with native speakers. Join language exchanges, participate in online forums or language learning communities. Communicating with native speakers will help you develop your speaking skills, learn to understand native speakers, and master your language intuition.

7. Evaluate your progress: Check your knowledge regularly and evaluate your progress. Use tests, quizzes or independent assignments to determine your level and identify weaknesses. Gradually push your limits and increase the difficulty of your assignments to maintain constant growth.

Learning a foreign language requires constant effort and self-organisation. But with the right skills and strategies described in the book “Polyglot Notes. Practical Tips for Learning Foreign Languages” (ebook and paperback), you can achieve success and enjoy the delights of mastering a new language. “Polyglot Notes” describes many recommendations and approaches in learning a foreign language, developing the language skills of speaking, listening, writing and reading, learning grammar, new words and setting the correct pronunciation. Follow these principles, be persistent and self-confident, and a foreign language will become your faithful companion in travelling around the world.

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Yuriy Ivantsiv

Master of History, specialist in culture and museum pedagogy.