Stop Just 'Studying' a Foreign Language; Fall in Love with It Instead

Do you find yourself in this situation too?

Every year, you make ambitious resolutions to master a foreign language, buying stacks of books and downloading several apps. The first few days are filled with enthusiasm, but within a few weeks, that initial zeal fizzles out like a phone with a dead battery, shutting down rapidly.

Books gather dust in a corner, apps lie dormant on your phone's second screen, and you can't help but ask yourself: "Why do I always lose interest so quickly?"

The problem isn't your perseverance; it's that you got the direction wrong from the very beginning.

You've treated language learning as a task, not a love affair.

Are You On an 'Arranged Match' or in a 'Passionate Relationship'?

Imagine, why would you give up on a language?

Most likely, you chose it purely for some 'rational' reasons. For instance, "English is good for my career," "Japanese seems popular," or "Spanish is the world's second most spoken language."

This is like an arranged meeting. The other party has excellent credentials, a shining resume, and everyone says you're a 'perfect match.' But you look at them, your heart unfazed, and even conversations feel like a chore. How long can you sustain such a relationship?

I have a friend who is fluent in four or five European languages. One time, he decided to learn Romanian. Logically, it felt like scoring easy points – Romanian is related to several languages he already knew. He thought it would be a piece of cake.

The result? He failed, and it was an unprecedented, miserable failure. He simply couldn't muster the motivation to learn it and eventually had to give up.

Soon after, he fell in love with Hungarian. This time, the situation was completely different. He wasn't learning Hungarian because it was 'useful' or 'easy.' It was because he had once visited Budapest and was deeply captivated by its architecture, cuisine, and culture. The moment he heard Hungarian, it felt like his heart was struck.

He wanted to re-experience that culture, but this time, as an 'insider,' to feel and understand it through the local language.

You see, learning Romanian was like that dry arranged meeting. But learning Hungarian was a wholehearted, passionate love affair.

Without an emotional connection, all techniques and methods are futile. What sustains you is never 'what you should do,' but 'what you truly desire.'

How to 'Fall in Love' with a Language?

"But what if I don't get to travel abroad or meet friends from that country?"

Good question. You don't need to actually leave the country to build an emotional connection. You just need to wield your most powerful weapon – your imagination.

Try this method: Direct a 'future movie' for yourself.

This isn't just simple 'imagining,' but rather creating a clear, specific, heart-pounding 'spiritual North Star' for your language learning.

Step 1: Set the Scene for Your 'Movie'

Close your eyes. Instead of thinking, 'I need to memorise vocabulary,' ask yourself:

• Where is the scene set? Is it at a café along the Seine in Paris? Or a late-night izakaya in Tokyo? Or on a sun-drenched street in Barcelona? Make the scene as specific as possible.
• Who are you with? A newly made local friend? Your future business partner? Or just you, confidently ordering from the shop assistant?
• What are you doing? What interesting topics are you discussing? Is it about art, food, or each other's lives? Are you laughing heartily?

Combine these details into a scene that fills you with longing. This scene is your ultimate learning destination.

Step 2: Infuse it with 'Soulful Emotion'

Visuals alone aren't enough; a movie needs emotion to be truly impactful.

In your scene, ask yourself:

• How do I feel? When I speak that sentence fluently, do I feel incredibly proud and excited? When I understand their joke, do I feel our hearts drawing closer?
• What do I smell? What do I hear? Is it the aroma of coffee in the air, or distant street music?
• What does this moment mean to me? Does it prove that my efforts haven't been in vain? Does it open up a new world I've always dreamed of?

Deeply etch these feelings into your mind. Let this 'feeling' become the fuel for your daily learning.

Step 3: Screen it Daily

Jot down your 'movie script' simply.

Before you start learning each day, take two minutes to read it, or 'play' it in your mind.

When you feel like giving up or find it tedious, immediately play this 'movie.' Remind yourself that you're not just grinding through a boring grammar book; you're paving the way for that sparkling future moment.

Soon, this imagined scene will feel like a real memory. It will pull you, push you, and make you willingly continue your journey.

Of course, there's always just a step between imagination and reality. What many fear is the moment of actual conversation. We always want to wait until we're 'perfect' to speak, and as a result, we never start.

But actually, you can start creating real connections now. For instance, tools like Lingogram have built-in AI real-time translation, allowing you to chat seamlessly with people worldwide. You don't have to wait until you're proficient to experience the joy of cross-cultural communication – which is precisely what will ignite the spark of that 'love affair' feeling.

So, stop tormenting yourself with the word 'perseverance.' The best way to learn a language is to get 'addicted' to it.

Forget those mundane reasons. Find a culture that moves you, and direct a wonderful movie for yourself. Then, you'll discover that language learning is no longer a chore, but a romantic journey you won't want to end.