Stop Sprinting a Marathon: Why Do You Always Give Up on Learning a Foreign Language?

Every year, we earnestly make new resolutions: "This year, I have to learn Japanese!" or "It's time I picked up my French again!"

You buy brand new textbooks, download a dozen apps, and in a burst of enthusiasm, study intensely for three hours every day. For the first week, you feel like an absolute linguistic genius.

And then... that was it.

Work gets hectic, friends make plans, and life, like an out-of-control truck, smashes your perfect study plan to smithereens. You look at your dusty textbooks, filled with frustration: "Why do I always lose interest so quickly?"

Don't be so quick to blame yourself. The problem isn't your willpower; it's that you applied the wrong effort from the very beginning.

Why Do Your 'Fitness Plans' Always Fail?

Let's switch scenarios. Learning a language is actually very much like working out.

Many people sign up for gym memberships with the fantasy of "getting a toned physique in a month." For the first week, they go every single day, pumping iron, running, and working themselves to the point of exhaustion. The result? Body aches, but barely any change in the numbers on the weighing scale. Overwhelming frustration sets in, and that gym membership often ends up gathering dust.

Sound familiar, doesn't it?

This is our biggest misconception when learning a foreign language: we always try to run a 'marathon' at a '100-meter sprint' pace.

We crave "quick fixes," wanting that magical "instant grasp" result, yet we ignore the process itself. But language isn't like ordering takeaway; it can't be delivered instantly. It's more like a healthy lifestyle that requires patient nurturing.

Truly effective language learners understand a secret: they enjoy the thrill of 'sprinting,' but also understand the endurance that 'jogging' brings.

Step One: Embrace the Thrill of the 'Sprint Phase'

Imagine you're going on a beach vacation and start working out intensely a month in advance. In this phase, your goal is clear, and your motivation is sky-high. This kind of high-intensity 'sprint' is highly effective, allowing you to see noticeable changes in a short period.

It's the same with learning a language.

• Going on a trip? Perfect! Spend two weeks intensely mastering travel phrases.
• Suddenly hooked on a K-drama? Strike while the iron is hot and memorise all the classic lines from it.
• Free on the weekend? Schedule an "immersive study day" for yourself – turn off Chinese and only listen, watch, and speak your target language.

These 'sprint phases' (Speedy Gains) can bring you immense satisfaction and positive reinforcement, making you feel "I can do it!" They are a real shot in the arm on your learning journey.

But the key is to understand: no one can remain in a sprint state forever. This state is unsustainable. When the 'sprint phase' ends and life returns to its regular pace, that's when the real challenge truly begins.

Step Two: Build Your 'Jogging' Rhythm

Most people give up entirely after the 'sprint' ends because they can't maintain the high intensity. They think, "If I can't study for three hours every day, then why bother studying at all?"

This is truly a pity.

Fitness experts know that after a period of intense 'devil training,' what's more crucial is to maintain a regular workout routine two to three times a week. That's the real key to maintaining your physique and health.

It's the same with learning a language. You need to establish a sustainable 'Steady Growth' model. The core of this model isn't about doing 'a lot,' but about 'consistency.'

How to build your 'jogging' rhythm?

1. Break down big goals into 'small everyday joys.' Don't always focus on "I want to become fluent" – that goal is too distant. Instead, rephrase it: "Today, I'm going to listen to a German song while showering" or "Today, I'm going to use an app to learn 5 new words on my way to work." These small tasks are easy, pain-free, and provide instant gratification.

2. Integrate learning into the 'gaps' of your daily routine. You don't need to carve out large chunks of time every day. 10 minutes waiting for the metro, 15 minutes during your lunch break, 20 minutes before bed... these 'pockets of time' add up to something incredible. Utilise them well, and learning won't feel like a burden.

3. Transform 'practice' into 'chatting'. One of the biggest obstacles in language learning is the fear of speaking, making mistakes, or feeling embarrassed. We often feel we need to be perfectly prepared before we can communicate with others. But what if there was a tool that allowed you to have genuine, stress-free conversations with people from all over the world? This is precisely the appeal of Intent, the chat app. It has powerful AI real-time translation built-in, so when you get stuck or aren't sure how to phrase something, the AI acts like a personal interpreter, assisting you. This transforms language communication from a dreaded 'oral exam' into a relaxed and enjoyable chat with new friends. You can build your language intuition and boost your confidence in the most natural way possible.

So, stop feeling guilty because you can't 'persist' in rigorous daily study.

The secret to success isn't about speed; it's about rhythm.

Understand your learning phase: Am I sprinting right now, or jogging?

• When you have time and motivation, sprint all out.
• When life gets busy, switch to jogging mode and maintain minimal contact.

Stop approaching life's marathon like a short-distance runner. Relax, find a rhythm that's comfortable for you, and enjoy the scenery along the way. You'll be surprised to find that, without even realising it, you've already come so far.