Whats the Best Time of Day to Learn a Language Picking the Right Schedule for You

Whats the Best Time of Day to Learn a Language Picking the Right Schedule for You Whats the Best Time of Day to Learn a Language? Picking the Right Schedule for You Are you an early bird or a night owl?Do you jump out of bed bright and alert, or do you get moving after the sun is way up and all the coffee has kicked in?Everyone works, thinks and learns differently, even when it comes to the time of day that were at our best. Its no different for language learners.And with the amount of memorization, practice and communication we need to master our target language, it only makes sense to try and get the most out of every minute we spend studying.This article will show you some of the benefits of studying in the morning, in the afternoon and in the evening.Then well help you weigh those benefits against your own learning style so you can select the right schedule for you. Rise and Shine: The Benefits of Morning StudyingYou may learn more efficiently.One study suggests  that morning might be the most productive time to learn. While the study doesnt explore possible causes of this increased productivity, it does indicate that it can lead to more e fficient learning.Since studying more efficiently can help language learners save time, reduce stress and, ultimately, get fluent faster, this is a very valuable benefit.Natural light is easier on the eyes.Artificial light can lead to eye strain, so taking advantage of daylight is beneficial. After all, reducing discomfort like this can help make it easier to read textbooks, study vocabulary lists or do reading practice without having to take breaks.Youre more likely to be able to study with others or reach out for help.Language learning is often a social endeavor. Talking to others can provide helpful speaking practice or help you clear up any issues you find challenging. If you study in the morning, you might be able to reach out immediately. If not, you still have the rest of the day open to try to get in touch.This could be especially relevant if youre trying to coordinate some conversation practice with native speakers in a different time zone, depending on where youre both loc ated.Youre better rested.Capitalize on your nights sleep! Without a whole day of work, chores or general stress behind you, morning studying can be great for language learning focus.  If you happen to be a morning person, you might even be more alert.Post-lunch Crunch: The Benefits of Afternoon StudyingYou may support long-term retention.One study notes  that afternoon learning may improve long-term memory recall. Of course, language learning requires significant long-term retention of everything from vocabulary words to conjugation rules and more, so this could be important for many learners.You arent overly tired yet.Since its not yet terribly late in the day, you probably still have some energy. In language learning, some studying tasks can seem tedious, so its important that you have enough energy to maintain your focus. Studying in the afternoon should still allow for this.Midnight Oil: The Benefits of Evening StudyingThere may be fewer distractions.Since the evening is general ly you time, you might be in a better position to minimize distractions. Having fewer distractions can lead to improved focus, allowing you to engage more fully in your language study.It may improve retention.Research has shown  that studying before bed can help you better remember what youve learned. In this study, participants memorized word sets. The study ultimately found that participants who studied just before sleeping remembered the word sets better.Therefore, studying vocabulary before bed might be a useful way to memorize words more effectively.Whats the Best Time of Day to Learn a Language? Picking the Right Schedule for You1. Experiment with different times to see what works best for you.If you havent noticed, theres research to support that any time of day is the best time to learn. Believe it or not, researchers have also found  that the best time of day to study is specific to the individual. Especially since learning a language is a complex task with various factors, you need to do what works for you.Everyone learns differently, so try to schedule your studying for when you learn best.The only way to know what works best for you is to experiment with studying at different times of day. What feels best? What seems to yield the most results? What makes you feel the best about your language skills?2. Try studying different topics at different times of day.As you experiment with studying at different times, you should also try studying different topics at different times of day. You may learn different topics more effectively depending on the time.For instance, since one study shows improved retention of word sets for evening study, you might want to try studying vocabulary before bed to see if you remember more the next day. Since another study suggests increased productivity in the morning, this might be a good time to hammer away at some of the nitty-gritty grammar rules that you struggle with.Additionally, soft natural light might make morning an ideal time for reading practice since it will be easier on your eyes.You can use whatever logic makes sense to you, but over time, you might notice that you prefer to focus on different topics at different times of day.3. Try breaking your studying into short bursts throughout the day.Another trick you might want to try is breaking your studying into short bursts at various times. Studying a language can start to feel repetitive, so you might tune out if you try to study for too long in one stretch. However, if you break your studying into shorter chunks, you might have better focus.For instance, maybe you want to learn 20 vocabulary words. You might set aside 40 minutes to try to memorize them, but by the end, youll probably be much less focused.However, if you dedicate just two minutes to each word and stagger memorizing them throughout the day, youll probably have an easier time focusing on each word.4. Set a schedule.Once youve experimented with what time of day works best fo r you, its helpful to set a schedule.  Studying at the same time each day will help ensure you consistently remember to do it. After all, it becomes a part of your daily routine.For instance, if you get used to reading a chapter in your favorite textbook each day at 4 p.m., youll always remember to do it.Without a routine, its very possible that youll have every intention of studying but youll simply forget.5. Take into account the task at hand.When deciding what time of day to study, its also important to take the task at hand into account. After all, it may directly point toward or away from certain times of day.For instance, if youre busy, you might cram listening practice into your commute. If youre doing speaking practice, you might not want to do it when people you live with are sleeping to avoid their wrath.Considering your lifestyle and the task at hand will help you find the right time for you.6. Remember that more language exposure is better.Some times of day may be less e ffective than others for studying a language, but exposure to the language is still incredibly valuable. The more you interact with a language by studying it, using it, reading it or simply hearing it, the less foreign that language will seem.Because of this, theres no wrong time of day to study. Even if you dont remember what you attempted to learn, the very act of exposing yourself to the language is beneficial.While there are a lot of factors to consider when learning a language, choosing the right time of day doesnt have to be a hard one.Keeping all the benefits in mind, choose whatever time works best for you! And One More ThingNo matter what time of day you learn languages, youll love using FluentU to get the job done. FluentU makes it possible to learn languages  from music videos, commercials, news and inspiring talks.With FluentU, you learn real languagesâ€"the same way that real people speak them. FluentU has a wide variety of videos, like movie trailers, funny commercia ls and web series, as you can see here:FluentU App Browse ScreenFluentU has interactive captions that let you tap on any word to see an image, definition, audio and useful examples. Now native language content is within reach with interactive transcripts.Didnt catch something? Go back and listen again. Missed a word? Hover over or tap on the subtitles to instantly view definitions.FluentU Interactive TranscriptsYou can learn all the vocabulary in any video with FluentUs quiz mode. Swipe left or right to see  more examples for the word you’re learning.FluentU Has Quizzes for Every VideoAnd FluentU always keeps track of vocabulary that you’re learning. It uses that vocab to give you a 100% personalized experience by recommending videos and examples.