How I study 5 minutes a day and ACTUALLY become more fluent

That’s a screenshot from my Instagram.

I recorded a video showing you exactly how I study for 5 minutes a day and take real steps toward fluency. Watch the video here.

I speak for 5 minutes a day.

• I pick a speaking topic

• I set a timer for 5 minutes

• I talk aloud until the timer rings

I use a translator as I talk to look up words I don’t know. I also keep a tally of how many words I said. Here’s my daily tally so far.

Number of words spoken in a 5-minute window of time is one simple way to self-assess progress at home.

It’s not a perfect way to do so, but it does the trick, especially for anyone with a beginner or sometimes intermediate level. It’s common sense: in order to speak more fluently, you need to say more words. Today, I said 93 words in 5 minutes. That is 15% better than 2 days ago.

I also measure progress with…

• Vocabulary self-assessments. For example, I did one in Ukrainian and I apparently know 680 word families. This corresponds approximately to a high-beginner level.

• Translation reliance. I’m not tracking this right now, but it’s a measurement of how often I need to use an online translator.

• Grammar: obviously speaking correctly is important. My grammar is excellent in Ukrainian when I speak, but only because if I have the SLIGHTEST doubt on if I said something correctly, I look it up on the spot.

• Pronunciation: I use a self-assessment tool that I designed 😊

Measurement is crucial.

This is specifically for those who care deeply about getting better or even reaching fluency one day. Without some form of progress tracking, you will definitely lack motivation and learn slower.

Best of luck with your language studies!

Reach out if I can do anything to help. I can also send you a Fluency Self-Assessment tool that I made, if you’d like.