✍️ 4 easy habits to write more in your target language

Low effort, small doses to keep you going

Dear reader,

Oleg

has been making a lot of progress in his target language, but he confessed in one of his posts that he hasn’t been writing much. I believe he’s not alone. Writing might not be an end goal for learners, but it can help memorise the language more effectively.

Here are simple habits I keep to practise writing in my target language.

📔 Keep a physical journal

Actually writing with a pen and paper is an incredible way to get used to the shape and looks of words on a page. However, it can also be very tedious and exhausting.

This is why I only write one or two sentences a day. I sometimes like to expand on something, but I try to keep it short. Have you ever heard of these 5-year journals where you write a few words each day and see how it compares with your day, 1 to 5 years ago? I keep one in my target languages! I mostly write in Korean, and sometimes in Italian.

I used to get these journal entries corrected by a native speaker, but it took quite a lot of time for both of us, so I figured I would go with the flow. Wouldn’t it be fun to read my mistakes a few years from now, and see how I improved?

💬 Text friends

Typing should not be underestimated, especially for alphabets that differ from your native language. It is a useful skill to look for words and resources online.

I practise by messaging friends over Tandem. I don’t do this often, and to be honest, the turnover is pretty high - I haven’t kept many friends for more than a few months. But it’s a good way to read and write at a natural speed, with no pressure. You might even get feedback from a native speaker!

🃏 Write sentences you like

I find good sentences in so many places: Tandem conversations, TV show subtitles, lesson sample sentences, online articles… But I never copy and paste them. I type unknown words in the dictionary, and I type my Anki flashcards by hand.

It might seem like a minor change, but it makes all the difference. I misread more often in Korean than I do in other alphabets, because my brain is not good enough yet to detect all the words that sound off. My flashcards help me filter through a few mistakes.¹

🔍 Look up things in your target language

When you have a question, browsing and looking up things in your target language is a great way to get used to typing prompts and scanning answers. You will learn which keywords are useful for navigating websites or finding resources.

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Do you currently write in your target language? If so, what habits would you like to share with other learners?

Don’t overdo it, small steps are enough to keep going! Have a lovely week.

Best,

Lou

✍️ Dear language learner

Learn your target language with useful sentences! Here are a few to translate to test yourself. If they’re relevant to you, you can add them to your notes or spaced-repetition system.

🌱 Beginner

I write very slowly.

🌿 Intermediate

I keep a daily journal in this language.

🌳 Advanced

If you don’t want to wait to get an answer, you could try looking it up online.

Thank you for reading “I heard from Lou”. It can be hard to find people who share your passion for learning. If you have friends who might like this letter, let them know.

1. I should really write something about my flashcard system, because it is so helpful to me!