3 simple habits for learning (Arabic) faster

Humbling. Exciting. Challenging. Difficult. Exhilarating.

Learning another language is nothing if not an emotional rollercoaster. From the highs of understanding your first conversation to the lows of just not getting the grammar, we’ve all been there.

I recently began learning Saudi Arabic. That has plunged me back into the process I went through for the first time more than ten years ago with Russian, my second language. But while the challenges are the same, I’m more experienced this time.

In fact, there are three things I try to do every day that help me supercharge my progress.

First, I review old vocabulary and learn new words using Anki. Anki is a free, open-source flashcard program that, according to Wikipedia, “uses techniques from cognitive science such as active recall testing and spaced repetition to aid the user in memorization.”

I write my own cards, since this is a cognitive point of contact with the new word that also helps with memorization. Here’s my next word for review:

Once I’ve recalled or can’t remember the word, I click the button to reveal the “other side” of the flashcard:

There are multiple options at the bottom of the screen, and since I remembered this word in Arabic, I’ll select “Good.” I’ll see this word again tomorrow. If I get it right then, it will be a longer time before I see it again. That process is called spaced repetition.

Second, I take 5-10 minutes to meditate after reviewing vocabulary, doing homework, or having a lesson. According to this and many other studies, the “degree to which people can remember prose after 7 days is significantly affected by the cognitive activity they engage in shortly after new learning takes place.” Wakeful rest has been shown to improve encoding and retention.

My app of choice is Waking Up by Sam Harris. It gives me a ten-minute daily meditation focused on breathing, observation, and mindfulness. Beyond the memory benefits, that has helped me quiet my brain and stay connected to my body. If you want a free month to try it out, here's a free month.

Third, I focus on a single linguistic issue that I’m having a hard time understanding or remembering. For my beginner Arabic, examples have been learning and practicing numbers, mastering possessive noun endings, and remembering which noun forms to use with which numbers.

Some ways I’ve done this include watching YouTube videos, reviewing lesson materials, Googling, and talking to my Arabic-speaking friends.

Taking the time to dive into and fully understand a single issue gives me a tangible sense of progress and achievement. Getting rid of that pain point is a great feeling – the language no longer seems so daunting.

And that’s it! What do you do to take control of your learning process? Is there anything you think I’m doing wrong?