How to Stay Motivated When Learning English

At the start, learning English feels exciting. You buy a new notebook, you download an app and you study every day. Then, a few weeks later, life gets busy. The notebook stays in your bag. Sound familiar? Don’t worry: this happens to almost everyone. The good news is that you can learn how to stay motivated when learning English, and it is easier than you think.

Motivation means the energy and the reasons that make you want to do something. It goes up and down, like the weather. So the secret is not to feel motivated all the time. The secret is to build small habits that keep you going, even on grey days.

Here are 8 simple, friendly tips.

How to stay motivated when learning English: 8 tips

1. Remember your “why”

Why did you start? Maybe you want a new job, want to travel or want to talk to friends from other countries. Write your reason on a small card and keep it where you can see it, like on your mirror or your phone screen.

“I am learning English so I can talk to my grandchildren in Canada.”

When you feel tired, read your card.

2. Make your goals tiny

Big goals like “speak perfect English” can feel overwhelming (too big and too heavy). Tiny goals feel easy, so you actually do them.

• Learn five new words today.
• Watch one short video in English.
• Write three sentences about your day.

When a goal is small, you can finish it. And finishing feels good, so you want to come back tomorrow.

3. Study a little every day

Ten minutes every day is better than two hours once a week. Short, regular practice helps your brain remember more. Try studying at the same time each day, for example with your morning coffee or on the bus home.

Researchers at University College London studied how people build new habits. On average, it took about 66 days for a new habit to feel automatic, but for some people it was much quicker and for others much slower. Here is the happy part: missing one day did not really matter. So if you miss a day, just start again tomorrow.

Our post on spaced repetition shows a smart way to make new words stay in your memory.

4. Learn with stories you love

It is hard to stay motivated with boring lists. It is much easier when you care about what you are reading or watching. Stories make English feel alive. You want to know what happens next, so you keep going, and you learn new words without even trying.

Choose topics you already enjoy: sport, cooking, music, history or science. Your English will grow while you have fun.

5. Track your progress

When you learn slowly, it is easy to think, “I’m not getting better.” But you probably are! A simple tracker (a way to record what you do) helps you see it.

Draw a calendar and put a tick on every day you study. After a few weeks, look at all those ticks. They show your hard work, and you won’t want to break the chain.

“Look! I studied 20 days this month.”

6. Celebrate small wins

Did you understand a joke in English? Did you order a coffee without any problems? That is a win! Celebrate it. Tell a friend or enjoy a small treat.

Small celebrations teach your brain that learning English feels good. And when something feels good, we want to do it again.

7. Find a study friend

Learning with someone else makes it more fun. You can share new words, practise speaking together or simply send each other a message: “Did you study today?” This kind of friendly check is called accountability: you feel responsible to someone, so you keep your promise.

No study friend nearby? Join an online group for English learners.

8. Be kind to yourself about mistakes

Mistakes are not a sign that you are bad at English. They are a sign that you are trying. Every learner makes mistakes, and every mistake teaches you something.

Instead of saying “I’m terrible at this,” try saying “I’m still learning.” This small change can keep your motivation strong.

A true story to keep you going

For many years, people believed that nobody could run a mile in under four minutes. Then, on 6 May 1954, in Oxford, a young medical student called Roger Bannister did it. His time was 3 minutes 59.4 seconds. He was busy with his studies, so he could not train all day. He kept going anyway, step by step.

You can watch his story in our lesson Roger Bannister: They Said It Was Impossible. It is a great reminder that something which looks impossible can become possible with steady practice.

When motivation is low, do just two minutes

Some days you will have no energy at all. That is normal. On those days, make a deal with yourself: study for just two minutes. Read one short paragraph or listen to one song in English. Often, once you start, you will want to continue. And if you don’t, two minutes is still better than zero.

For more simple ideas, visit our page on how to study.

Keep your light shining

Now you know how to stay motivated when learning English: remember your why, keep goals tiny, study a little every day, enjoy stories, track your progress, celebrate wins, find a friend and be kind to yourself. You don’t need to do all eight at once. Pick one tip today and try it.

Which tip will you try first?

Looking for stories that make learning a joy? Watch our free video lessons: real, inspiring stories told in clear English for levels A1 to B2. Start learning with Bright Lives English and keep your English journey bright!