Learn languages like a pro

(Even if you’re busy)

STARTER GUIDE*

SMART objectives: what’s that?

If you’re a serious learner, you want to make sure that your learning is structured and that
you’re working towards specific goals. This is particularly important if ​you’re a busy person
and if you’re trying to fit language learning ​around your other commitments​.

This starter kit is designed to give you an idea of how to structure your language learning
objectives and includes a sample vocabulary learning schedule that will give you an idea of
how you can organise a specific area of your learning to make the most of the time you have.

So what are SMART language learning objectives?

They are ​specific​ - you know exactly what you’re trying to learn (e.g. ‘the 20 most common
adjectives in French’, rather than just ‘French’).

They are ​measurable ​- you know how to tell that you’ve achieved them (e.g. ‘the 5 most
important verbs in German’, rather than ‘some German verbs’).

They are​ ambitious ​- you stretch yourself and push yourself to leave your comfort zone (e.g.
‘learn 20 French verbs in a month’ rather than ‘in a year’).

They are​ realistic​ - you know that you will be able to meet them if you work hard enough (e.g.
‘learn 20 French verbs this week’ rather than ‘this evening’).

They are ​time-bound​ - you’ve set yourself a deadline for achieving them (‘be able to talk
about X by the end of this month’ rather than just ‘be able to talk about X’).

Scroll down to see some examples...

*This starter guide is a taster you get of the Language Learner Pro step-by-step video course on how
to learn languages effectively even if you’re busy. You will find more information about Language
Learner Pro here: ​http://5minutelanguage.teachable.com/courses/language-learner-pro
© 5-Minute Language
www.5minutelanguage.com

 
SMART objectives: examples
Vocabulary
★ By the end of the month, I will have learned the 40 most common verbs in Swedish.

★ By the end of the week, I will have learned 2 synonyms of each one of the following
verbs (in Russian): to think, to say, to get.

★ By the end of June, I will have learned at least 50% of the words I don’t now
understand on the first 5 pages of ‘Le Petit Prince’ (a book in French).

Speaking
★ By the end of June, I will have had 3 conversations about politics with my language
exchange partner, during which I will have used the 10 most common expressions
used when debating a topic (you can specify what they are).

★ By the end of the year, I will be able to give a 5 minute presentation about what I do
and what I’m interested in, in German, without hesitating and pausing for more than
3 seconds.

★ By the end of the month, I will be able to explain what my favourite Polish film is
about in the present tense, without hesitating and pausing for longer than 5 seconds.

★ By the end of the week, I will be able to ask 3 different questions when I don’t
understand something in German.

Writing
★ By the end of the month, I will be able to write an invitation to a party in Norwegian.

★ I will be able to write a postcard to my family by the end of my holiday in Spain.

★ By the end of September, I will be able to write a blog post in French about my
holiday in Paris.

*This starter guide is a taster you get of the Language Learner Pro step-by-step video course on how
to learn languages effectively even if you’re busy. You will find more information about Language
Learner Pro here: ​http://5minutelanguage.teachable.com/courses/language-learner-pro
© 5-Minute Language
www.5minutelanguage.com

 
SMART objectives checklist
Ask yourself the following questions when setting your objectives to see if they’re really
SMART.

★ Is your objective specific enough?

★ Is your objective measurable? Do you know

what success looks like? Will you know when
you’ve achieved your objective?

★ Is your objective ambitious? Does it feel like

a challenge? Is it not too easy?

★ Is your objective realistic? Is it likely you will

be able to achieve it?

★ Is your objective time-bound? When is your

deadline for achieving it?

*This starter guide is a taster you get of the Language Learner Pro step-by-step video course on how
to learn languages effectively even if you’re busy. You will find more information about Language
Learner Pro here: ​http://5minutelanguage.teachable.com/courses/language-learner-pro
© 5-Minute Language
www.5minutelanguage.com

 
Vocabulary schedule: example
WEEK 1 Morning Afternoon Evening

Monday Set my vocabulary Read a magazine Write down

goals for the week. article in my target highlighted link
Create this week’s language at words (including
to-do list in my lunchtime, paying sentences they’re
target language. attention to link in) and put each
words (highlight one on a
them). flashcard. Place
the flashcards
around the flat.

Tuesday Take a 5-minute Read the news in Listen to music in

walk around the my target language my target
flat looking at the at lunchtime. language on my
flashcards with link way back from
words. work. Listen to
each song once
without looking
at the lyrics and
then again – this
time looking at
the lyrics.
Highlight the
words I don’t
know yet.

Wednesday Listen to the songs Look for a recipe in Whilst cooking,

from last night, my target language describe my
paying particular for a dish I’m going actions in my
attention to the to cook this target language
words I highlighted evening. (pretending I’m a
in the lyrics. TV chef!).

*This starter guide is a taster you get of the Language Learner Pro step-by-step video course on how
to learn languages effectively even if you’re busy. You will find more information about Language
Learner Pro here: ​http://5minutelanguage.teachable.com/courses/language-learner-pro
© 5-Minute Language
www.5minutelanguage.com

 
 Thursday Find a workout on Read the news in Read my
YouTube in my my target language favourite blog in
target language – at lunchtime. my target
exercise for 15 language, paying
minutes. attention to
verbs I don’t
know. Highlight
those verbs.

Friday Look at the Read a film review Watch a film in

highlighted verbs in of a film I’m going my target
the blog post I read to watch this language.
and memorise evening in my
them. Put them on target language and
flashcards and take highlight adjectives
them to work with I don’t know.
me.

Saturday Take the adjectives Tell my language Summarise what

I highlighted exchange partner I’ve learned this
yesterday and about the film I week – celebrate
write them down watched last night, success and think
on flashcards, and using at least 5 of about what else I
place them around the adjectives I could improve.
the flat. Practise highlighted in the Go over my to-do
the words for 15 review. list and tick off
minutes. the things I’ve
completed this
week.

Sunday Day off! Day off! Day off!

*This starter guide is a taster you get of the Language Learner Pro step-by-step video course on how
to learn languages effectively even if you’re busy. You will find more information about Language
Learner Pro here: ​http://5minutelanguage.teachable.com/courses/language-learner-pro
© 5-Minute Language
www.5minutelanguage.com