For a class I took about teaching, I read this article about different kinds of motivations. It made me think about how I was learning Arabic. I love to say I'm learning Arabic, but the truth is, I'm usually thinking about studying! I'm working on my language skills slowly, but I find so many other things to do instead. Then, I just tell myself I'm too busy. Am I too busy or am I NOT making time to learn?
Does that sound like you studying for TOEFL or IELTS?
One of the main problems studying on your own is accountability! It's too easy to give something up if there's nobody to punish or reward you. It's one reason I think taking a TOEFL class is good. In a group setting, there's a teacher with some authority to make you feel bad for not doing your homework, not keeping up, etc... But, when you study on your own- who's watching? Who's going to make you feel bad? NOBODY. It becomes too easy to break a promise to yourself to study. Soon, you just fill that time with other things and it's really easy to say you don't have time to study.
The simple fact is, we all have the same amount of time every day- 24 hours. What we choose to make important is different for all of is. Some of us need a little help in sticking to our priorities!
Enter StickK! It's a great program designed by Yale University economists that keeps you motivated using something we all care about... Money! When you sign up, YOU decide what your goal and schedule will be. You can even have a 'referee' keep an eye on you, and people to cheer you on. You report your progress. You make a commitment, and must stick to it. So what... you might be thinking... how is this any different than saying I'll study on my own and charting my progress???
Well, the genius of this system is that before you start, you pledge to give money to something you HATE! If you don't stick to your commitment, you loose your money! The idea of having to give money adds a layer of motivation to pursuing my goal that you can't imagine. We all need help in reaching our goals- It doesn't mean we are weak, just human. I guess the only possible flaw here is that you could cheat yourself by lying on your reports. But the guilt of lying to a website just so you don't have to pay up would be too much guilt for me to handle, personally.
It's perfectly acceptable to set a small weekly/daily commitment. In fact, I would encourage it. That way, you are developing a habit (which is about repeating an action), rather than relying on willpower (a feeling of wanting to do something). You decide the minimum amount of work you want to do. Is it 10 minutes of AWL in the morning. GREAT! You can always change it. I wouldn't suggest setting an unrealistic goal like studying 5 hours a day- that's a goal you'd be likely to fail in achieving consistently. Even if you did, you might 'burn out' quickly.
Set small, realistic goals for you, and StickK to them!
Does that sound like you studying for TOEFL or IELTS?
One of the main problems studying on your own is accountability! It's too easy to give something up if there's nobody to punish or reward you. It's one reason I think taking a TOEFL class is good. In a group setting, there's a teacher with some authority to make you feel bad for not doing your homework, not keeping up, etc... But, when you study on your own- who's watching? Who's going to make you feel bad? NOBODY. It becomes too easy to break a promise to yourself to study. Soon, you just fill that time with other things and it's really easy to say you don't have time to study.
The simple fact is, we all have the same amount of time every day- 24 hours. What we choose to make important is different for all of is. Some of us need a little help in sticking to our priorities!
Enter StickK! It's a great program designed by Yale University economists that keeps you motivated using something we all care about... Money! When you sign up, YOU decide what your goal and schedule will be. You can even have a 'referee' keep an eye on you, and people to cheer you on. You report your progress. You make a commitment, and must stick to it. So what... you might be thinking... how is this any different than saying I'll study on my own and charting my progress???
Well, the genius of this system is that before you start, you pledge to give money to something you HATE! If you don't stick to your commitment, you loose your money! The idea of having to give money adds a layer of motivation to pursuing my goal that you can't imagine. We all need help in reaching our goals- It doesn't mean we are weak, just human. I guess the only possible flaw here is that you could cheat yourself by lying on your reports. But the guilt of lying to a website just so you don't have to pay up would be too much guilt for me to handle, personally.
It's perfectly acceptable to set a small weekly/daily commitment. In fact, I would encourage it. That way, you are developing a habit (which is about repeating an action), rather than relying on willpower (a feeling of wanting to do something). You decide the minimum amount of work you want to do. Is it 10 minutes of AWL in the morning. GREAT! You can always change it. I wouldn't suggest setting an unrealistic goal like studying 5 hours a day- that's a goal you'd be likely to fail in achieving consistently. Even if you did, you might 'burn out' quickly.
Set small, realistic goals for you, and StickK to them!
