Crafting an Effective Learning Plan: Proven Tips for Success
Do you know how to write an effective learning plan? Let’s look together for proven tips for success!
Learning a language is a long and challenging journey where the results do not come through magic.
It requires persistence, dedication, and hard work, especially when you want to self-study -both in class and independently.
I put in tremendous effort to pursue my dream of becoming fluent in English. I attended English classes, studied English in college, and dedicated myself to extensive self-study.
Over the years, I have searched for helpful strategies and tools to enhance my studying experience—making it more effective, faster, efficient, and less stressful.
I would love to share with you, dear reader, my tips, strategies, and experiences that have helped improve my proficiency so much.
All this information is so beneficial that I was able to write my first English book Harsh Affairs.
I developed the English Study Helper website to show that studying English is not complicated.
I hope that you will also find my tips and recommendations helpful and that they’ll help you continue to improve your English!
The most important to remember is to have fun and enjoy every moment of the way.
Having a learning action plan is an incredible tool that greatly aids me in my self-studies. It keeps me focused, helps me organize my tasks better, reduces stress, and makes learning more enjoyable.
How about you?
Do you feel stressed and overwhelmed when learning a new language?
If so, consider the power of adopting a well-structured action plan – it could be a true game-changer for you. It gives you a clear roadmap and a systematic approach to your language learning, which takes away uncertainty and gives you a sense of direction.
Crafting an Effective Learning Plan
What is a learning plan?
An action plan is a system of measurable goals and objectives that help you succeed. In other words, it is a list of the steps or tasks you need to complete to achieve your learning goals.
Why Work on a Learning Plan?
When you work on an Action plan, it helps you to establish long-term and short-term goals so you can focus on your studies.
You will know what you need to do as a learning plan gives you clear direction and a step-by-step map of what and when you need to accomplish.
With an action plan, you can:
- Plan and track your studying progress toward your goal
- Concentrate, better organize tasks, and optimize productivity
- Be prepared for the obstacles ahead
- Prioritize your tasks and activities
As a plan is a visual picture at a glance where you set your goals in writing, you would be more committed to keeping going and will increase your motivation.
How to develop an effective learning plan?
STEP 1: Understand the goals
The first step is to understand the goals.
Do you study English because you want:
- To reach your career goals
- You’ll live in an English-speaking country
- To travel abroad
- To study or work abroad
- To better use the Internet and social media
Finding the motivation to learn English should not be difficult.
STEP 2: Set the goals and list the steps to be followed
Once you define your long-term main goal, set your mini-goals and the steps on how to get there.
Get SMART!
First, design your goal through the SMART criteria.
A SMART goal is a methodology used to help guide goal setting.
What I like about this technique is the specific criteria approach that allows you to measure your progress and the accomplishment of the goal.
Second, SMART goal setting makes your goals and objectives more structured and tractable.
SMART goals were first introduced by George T. Doran – a Director of Corporate Planning for a Washington Power Water Company.
In the November 1981 issue of Management Review, in his paper “There’s a S.M.A.R.T. way to write management’s goals and objectives” Doran laid out the main principles of SMART goals. Doran, G. T. (1981). Management Review (AMA FORUM) 70 (11): 35–36.
This technique has shown great effectiveness in various industries and has been adopted by numerous organizations.
What are the S.M.A.R.T. goals in English language learning?
The SMART English self-study action plan also incorporates five characteristics of a goal as we saw above. Let’s go through the five steps you need to focus on that will help you reach your learning goals fast, effectively, and less stressful. The core of a good goal is logic.
SMART stands for goals that are:
Specific – who, what, where, when, which, why
State what you want to achieve in your learning.
The more specific and clear your answer is, the easier it will be to create a helpful action plan
and track and evaluate the result. Make sure to own the process by stating “I will” when setting your goals. Keep telling yourself that you will do this, that you can do this, to get encouraged.
Example
Today is Sunday, and I will have a grammar and vocabulary test on Thursday. My goal is to study hard to pass the test earning a mark A.
As you want to make your goal specific, you need to break down “studying hard for tests” into more specific tasks that you’re trying to accomplish.
For example, these could be:
• I will understand when to use the Past Perfect tense
• I will learn the words from the Vocabulary list
SMART stands for goals that are:
Measurable – Track your progress
When a goal is specific and measurable, it’s more likely to be achieved.
Use smaller mini-goals to measure progress. For some learners, it is easier to set a time target (study for 15 minutes a day) for others, it is better to work on a results target (learn 15 words a day). Use what works best for you.
Example
Let’s look at our example and see how you can measure them:
• I will learn 30 new words from the Vocabulary list
• I will understand when to use the Past Perfect tense: this could be
made measurable by putting a specific number on it.
For example: learn the 3 most common uses of the Past Perfect tense.
It is always exciting to track your milestones. Reaching a goal is a huge accomplishment and a perfect excuse to celebrate and reward yourself for every single success.
Achievable/Attainable – Plan your steps
Plan each step carefully. Don’t set too difficult learning goals that you are not able to achieve – “Get through an entire textbook this week” or “Learn 100 new words a day” are not achievable goals.
The failure will make you feel disappointed in yourself, and you might lose interest. Instead, set reasonable and realistic goals that will boost your motivation.
Example
• I will learn 10 new words a day for the test on Thursday
• I will learn 1 grammar point a day for the test on Thursday
• I will meet with an English tutor on Tuesday to help me focus on my weak spots
Realistic – Willing and able to work toward the goal
Set a goal that is relevant to your life. Take your lifestyle and your everyday responsibilities into consideration when setting your objectives. Recall your previous experiences of “preparing for a test” to determine what’s doable and what’s not.
For example, if you managed to learn 30 words for three days to prepare and pass the test earning a mark A last month, it’s probably realistic to expect to succeed this time as well, as long as your schedule looks similar or the same. “I will learn well, all 30 words from the vocabulary list in one day” doesn’t sound realistic to me.
Example
I will learn 30 words on the vocabulary list and the 3 most common uses of the Past Perfect tense in 3 days. I will pass the test and earn a mark A.
The final element of SMART goals is making timely. It means giving you time but also setting a deadline for achieving your goal. It is a good practice to set a realistic time limit and keep yourself focused on your work.
Also, this helps you prioritize time for a specific activity over other tasks.
Challenge and push yourself, and be persistent, especially when you know you are doing well. However, don’t be unnecessarily harsh on yourself, and always remember the golden rule to enjoy and have fun.
Example
I will prepare for my English test in three days. Study for 1hour
on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, or Study for an extra hour on
Wednesday, get completed during that period (from Monday to
Thursday).
Timely – Fix your goal to a specific date
The final element of SMART goals is making timely. It means giving you time but also setting a deadline for achieving your goal. It is a good practice to set a realistic time limit and keep yourself focused on your work.
Also, this helps you prioritize time for a specific activity over other tasks.
Challenge and push yourself, and be persistent, especially when you know you are doing well. However, don’t be unnecessarily harsh on yourself, and always remember the golden rule to enjoy and have fun.
Example
I will prepare for my English test in three days. Study for 1 hour on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, or Study for an extra hour on Wednesday, get completed during that period (from Monday to Thursday).
You can also read:
Mastering the Language Learning Process: How to Unlock Proficiency
From Procrastinator to Achiever: Proven Strategies to Boost Productivity
Unlocking Language Acquisition: Key Elements of Learning a New Language
Implement the 3 Key principles of language
Let’s look at them as they will be a significant part of your learning
action plan.
What is the meaning of Second- language acquisition (SLA)?
Most people don’t like to read academic theories and scientific research papers.
As a linguist, I spent a lot of time learning different hypotheses and theories about the structure and development of a language and how we pick up a second language. I agree with those who think it is not a fun read. True, not entertaining for sure plus, those exams were the most difficult to pass.
Second-language acquisition (SLA) has two meanings. In a general sense, it is a term to describe learning a second language.
More specifically, it is the name of the theory of the process by which we acquire a second language.
Since the early 1960s. linguists, researchers, and teachers have spent decades observing the way people perceive a foreign language. And although the experts still do not have all the answers, they have found many things about what works well and what does not.
It is not necessary to go deeper into the theory. Instead, I will focus on the basics.
Research suggests that there are three main elements to learning a new language.
1. Comprehensible input – input is when learners are listening or reading something new in English and learning to understand it.
2. Comprehensible output – an output is when the language learners speak or write. In other words, learning to produce something in English.
3. Feedback – this is when you identify your errors and make changes in response.
These three elements are the fundamentals of your language practice, and an effective study plan will develop all three. If you think about that, it makes sense.
It is logical – the more you listen and read (input), the more you speak and write (output), and the more you recall and review what you have learned from your errors (feedback), the more your language skills will improve.
When you create your learning plan, make sure to include these three main elements of language learning: understanding (input), producing (output), and identifying and correcting errors (feedback), the more your language skills will improve.
Remember, all three matters.
Also, seek balance. Learning English is the same drill as learning any other language – involves listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
Try to avoid the mistake of focusing exclusively on just one activity, instead work simultaneously on all of them. It is important! I know it is not easy, but it is achievable!
Having these concepts to consider, you can start creating a learning plan and list the steps to follow.
The learning goal is clear.
What exactly should you do to realize it? Create a rough template to list all the tasks to be performed, due dates, and outcomes.
STEP 3: Brake down the big tasks into smaller, more manageable projects
My planning is usually for one year – three or four main goals throughout the year. That is my vision map to guide my English studies.
Once I set my main goals, then I break them down into smaller, manageable projects that are easier to execute and also manage.
From my experience, I know it’s easy to get overwhelmed by large projects, and anxiety can make you want to procrastinate.
Write down your monthly goals, and then at the start of each month, plan out each week for that month.
For example
My main goal for this year is to improve my level from Beginner to Intermediate.
The goal is clear. What you need to do is to break that down into what you need to do to get there.
• I will learn 3000 new words
• I will comprehend 30 new grammar points
• I will practice speaking for 5 hours per week
Then, plan what to do per week:
• I will learn 35 words
• I will learn 2 new grammar points
• I will practice speaking for 1 hour per day and recap both vocabulary and grammar during the weekend
• I will see a tutor every Monday
Finally, plan what you need to do every day
• I will recap 5 words every evening before bed
• I will review grammar exercises during my morning coffee
• I will read my flashcards while commuting
STEP 4: Prioritize tasks and provide deadlines
Reorganize the list by prioritizing the tasks. Test each item on your list according to its priority. Assign each task to a category.
You can use:
a (1),(2),(3) system
an A, B, C system
STEP 5: Identify the resources needed
Make sure that you have all the necessary resources you will need for your studies. And if they are not available, you need to make a plan to secure them. If it is too expensive to buy some of the textbooks, check the libraries. You can DIY flashcards, posters, and learning boards. Secure enough materials to practice the Four Skills – reading, writing, speaking, and listening.
For example:
Reading materials – books, websites, blogs, comics, apps
Writing materials – vocabulary and grammar exercise books, start a blog or write as a guest in blogs in your interest, social media
Speaking materials – listen to English songs, learn the lyrics, and sing along. Read out loud your reads.
Listening materials – music, movies, audiobooks, radio, tv, podcast, webinars
STEP 6: Visualize your action learning plan
Lastly, consider printing your action plans and planners in color and placing them in visible spots where you can see them daily. I make posters and pin them on my desk, the doors, and the fridge. (on the wall next to my oven to pin my DIY flashcards).
As I spend a lot of time cooking for the family, I usually use that time to read my flashcards and learn or review vocabulary or grammar.
STEP 7: Monitor and evaluate
Last but not least, you should monitor and evaluate your learning plan progress every day.
Track each one of the steps and state briefly what worked and what didn’t. Review your list at the end of the day by asking these questions:
• Has each step been implemented correctly?
• Has each step been implemented on time?
• Has the expected outcome been achieved?
Then you have to evaluate the learning results.
Regardless of its success or failure, the evaluation will show you the weak spots, and you will learn your lesson.
You can utilize it when solving a similar problem in the future.
Also, you can identify if you have:
• Reached the desired English level
• Progressed in your study
• Regressed in your English learning
• Remained at the same English level
Reward yourself for tasks completed on schedule and make any adjustments needed during the rest of the week.
Think and reflect on what was preventing you from achieving your goal.
Name them and create a list.
What is it?
Are you procrastinating?
Are you easily distracted?
Pay attention to what draws your focus away from your studies. Identify your time wasters – internet, telephone, or something else.
Make the necessary steps to fix the problem and manage your time more effectively.
Studying on your own doesn’t mean you are alone. You can ask for help from teachers and classmates or find a mentor /tutor.
You can also rely on your support system to hold you up when you feel overwhelmed.
Family, friends, and the community can give you a hand to overcome your obstacles
and struggles.
Don’t regret your failures. Instead, learn from your mistakes as they’re a part of the learning process.
When communicating in English, try not to think about the mistakes you might make. I have personally experienced the same feelings of anxiety and fear when speaking, but I’ve learned that relaxation and consistent practice are key. Keep honing your speaking skills; it’s the path to progress.
The more you practice, the sooner you will overcome your fears, and then little by little, you will see the desired results.
As you progress, your language learning goals may change. You might achieve certain objectives faster than anticipated or find new interests in the language. Be flexible and adjust your goals accordingly.
Example: If you planned to learn basic phrases for travel but now find a passion for reading literature in the target language, adjust your goals to include literary comprehension.
Also, check my bestseller guide:
TRAVEL GUIDE Survival Handbook for Effective Communication: Confident Conversations Abroad: Expert Tips to Reduce Anxiety, Stay Safe, Save Money
Learn to confidently travel abroad with the comprehensive guide to effective communication across language and cultural barriers.
In today’s interconnected world, being able to communicate your thoughts confidently and efficiently is more important than ever. Effective communication means more than just speaking the language: you must also understand cultural nuances, know how to adapt your speaking style and be open to building deeper connections.
Confident Conversations Abroad covers essential topics such as:
- Cultural sensitivity
- The power of non-verbal communication
- Managing challenging conversations
- Harnessing the potential of technology
- And much more!
Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or a curious novice planning their first adventure, good communication is the foundation for a successful trip full of positive experiences. When exploring another country, these skills are crucial for saving money, crafting memorable experiences, staying safe, and finding joy.
Confident Conversations Abroad is an indispensable resource that should be in everyone’s travel arsenal. It is perfect for readers seeking to bridge the gaps between languages and cultures, forge meaningful connections, and engage in transformative conversations.
Conclusion: Crafting an Effective Learning Plan: Proven Tips for Success
1. Make your self-study plan in a way that will work for you – consider your lifestyle, your family situation, your learning style, and your preferences. Working on a plan will help you manage your time more effectively, reduce stress, and make your learning journey pleasant.
2. Use the S.M.A.R.T approach when creating your plan so you can track your progress.
3. Create a balanced study plan: a mix of study activities to practice both spoken and written English and make sure to include all three key principles— input, output, and feedback.
4. Fill out the action plan daily.
5. Don’t be terrified of making mistakes. A lot of learners avoid practicing their English because they are scared of making errors. You need to remember that this is the wrong approach. What you should do is produce as much as you can to push your output to grow. Otherwise, two of the three key principles of language learning will be negatively affected!
6. Don’t be afraid to dream as big as you desire but get there by making small steps. When working on small projects you will see the results of your efforts sooner. The simple act of checking your task as “successfully done” is profoundly rewarding, and you will feel encouraged and empowered.
7. Don’t forget to reward yourself for every goal achieved for every single success. It is very important, and it works! Make it a habit to give yourself a small gift – a cup of coffee, and buy yourself something nice when you get things done as you had planned especially your most important tasks.
8. Don’t hesitate to ask for help or advice if you need it. Look at your support system – family and friends. Don’t wait until the moment when you feel overwhelmed or frustrated.
9. Remember that the plan is just a guide to help you with your studies and to make your life easier. You can change it at any time. If you think you’ve given yourself too much to do daily, just go back and readjust your weekly, monthly, and main goals or reframe the time.
Never give up! Try your best!
10. Don’t forget to have fun and enjoy your learning journey!
Thanks for reading!
With love and respect,
MK
