Setting Language Goals......

As in every area of your life, setting goals can help propel you forward in your language journey so that you will achieve your goal. Goal setting is a powerful process for thinking about your ideal future, and for motivating yourself to turn your vision of this future in to reality.

"Goals are new, forward moving objectives. They magnetise you toward them." Mark Victor Hansen.

"Goals transform insurmountable mountains into walk-able hills." (author unknown)

Why setting a few basic goals can help you achieve your language dream?

1. Goals focus your mind;
2. Goals transform a big task or a high mountain into steps or smaller hills;
3. Goals help us believe in ourselves as we achieve each milestone;
4. Goals hold us accountable to ourselves and others;
5. The process of setting goals helps you to choose where you want to go in life. By knowing precisely what you want to achieve, you know where you have to concentrate your efforts. You'll also quickly spot the distractions that can lead you astray;
6. By writing your goals down and committing to them gives you the motivational energy you need to work through times where your focus may become distracted.

So how to set goals for your new language:
For this to be effective, you need to set goals on a number of levels:

Firstly, create your "big picture"
Why do you want to speak a new language? The more specific and emotional this goal is the more effective it will be. As many of you know, my goal for Russian is sitting at my brother in law's kitchen table and understanding all his stories (yes, we  are drinking some vodka!) Another goal may be to be in a Thai market bargaining with the sellers in Thai, or wine tasting in the south of France with a French winemaker. Whatever your goal, you need to imagine yourself using your language fluently and it needs to make you smile!!! Get excited about achieving it.

Secondly, break this goal into smaller milestones.
You may want to use VLLC certificated to do this or a specific vocabulary target, e.g. to reach this goal I first need to complete Certificate II (social proficiency - about 1500 words), then Certificate III (basic vocational proficiency - about 2500 words). Set some time goals as well.

Thirdly, break this down into smaller and smaller monthly and weekly targets that you must hit in order to reach your main goal e.g. spend 30 minutes every day on my language; keep up top date with my homework - do it straight after my tutorial; meet a language buddy; aim to finish a Certificate II in 9 months means I need to complete an online lesson each week. Plan how and when you will do your weekly language study in as much detail as you can.

Finally, once you have your goal and plan of attack, it becomes a day to day journey. Enjoy hitting the little milestones
- reward yourself - this provides real motivation. Remember that "The journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step" Lao Tzu

Share the highs and share the lows ....... If you need help ASK..... Many of us at VLLC area at different stages of our language journey and all remember the frustrations and excitements of each stage.

Most importantly, be flexible. If one week doesn't go to plan, keep going. Its the long term efforts that will help you get to your language journey end.

A goal without a plan is just a wish...... Don't just wish it - plan for it to become your new reality....
Jo Ammerlaan, National Manager VLLC