Evaluating the Past Year #
- Reviewing the previous year’s successes and failures to identify what worked and what didn't.
- Identifying specific activities that led to progress versus those that caused stagnation.
- Assessing consistency and time management habits from the past 12 months.
Defining "Why" and Specificity #
- Moving beyond vague goals like "becoming fluent" to concrete, actionable objectives.
- Connecting language learning to personal lifestyle goals (e.g., traveling, moving abroad, or career advancement).
- Visualizing the specific scenarios where the language will be used to maintain long-term motivation.
The "Big 3" Framework #
- Selecting exactly three primary focus areas for the upcoming year to avoid burnout.
- Examples of goals: reaching a specific CEFR level (B2), finishing a textbook series, or consuming a set number of hours of native content.
- The importance of prioritizing depth over breadth to ensure measurable improvement.
Breaking Goals into Quarterly Sprints #
- Organizing the year into four 3-month blocks to make large goals feel manageable.
- Assigning specific themes or milestones to each quarter (e.g., Grammar Focus in Q1, Conversational Fluency in Q2).
- Allowing for "rest" or "maintenance" periods between high-intensity sprints.
Resource Selection and Curation #
- Limiting the number of apps, books, and courses to avoid "resource paralysis."
- Tailoring materials to the specific goals identified in the planning phase.
- Auditing current tools and discarding those that are no longer effective or engaging.
Scheduling and Systems #
- Building a daily or weekly routine that fits into a realistic lifestyle.
- Focusing on "input" (listening/reading) versus "output" (speaking/writing) balance.
- The role of "passive learning" (podcasts, background audio) in supplementing active study sessions.
Tracking Progress and Accountability #
- Using logs or journals to track hours spent and milestones reached.
- The psychological benefit of seeing visual proof of work completed.
- Adjusting the plan mid-year if life circumstances change or if a goal proves too easy or difficult.
Summary #
The video outlines a structured approach to language learning for 2026, emphasizing a move away from vague New Year's resolutions toward a systematic, data-driven plan. The method relies on auditing past performance, narrowing focus to three core objectives, and breaking those down into quarterly milestones. By curating resources carefully and establishing a consistent daily system rather than relying on fleeting motivation, learners can ensure steady, measurable progress throughout the year.
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