Let me ask you this if you only brush your teeth once a week for 45 minutes as you are too busy to do it everyday would it be beneficial? NO WAY and I don’t recommend it either. Unless you want to lose all your teeth. So now apply this to language learning if you only study 45 minutes on a Sunday is this beneficial?

The answer is NO. 10 - 20 minutes per day followed by a review maybe at the weekend is better than just 45 minutes once a week. Think of it like the 80 - 20 rule. Where 80% of your outcome can be attributed to 20% of what you put in. So let’s get started because if you are reading this then you are a busy person…

1 Take it to the toilet! Yes you heard right. I listen to Glossika on the loo and have even had Hello Talk chats too. Don’t worry no Skyping, well not yet anyway. Think of it as time in lieu, hahaha.

2 Travel time (television and social media time too) - Think of all the time you spend travelling. This can be better utilised to help you learn a language. Glossika can be used whilst driving instead of the radio or if you use public transport Duolingo or another app might help. The Communications regulator Ofcom recently did some research and discovered that the average person (adults and children) spend almost 4 hours per day watching television!  Just think of what you could achieve if you gave up watching TV and cut down on social media.

3 Shower - I love to sing! However other people often mistake it for me murdering a cat in the shower! When I was learning Mandarin Chinese or brushing up on my French I would sing random words and phrases. Give it a try or find a radio station that is in your target language.

4 Talk to yourself - Before arranged meetings with exchange partners or tutors I often talk out loud some of the things I plan to say and keep repeating it back to myself. It also helps me to feel more confident about what I will say to them.

5 Sticky notes - I tend to place random sticky notes on items. Much to the annoyance of my family. So every time I go near that item I am exposed to what it is called in my target language.

6 Little, but often- I aim to learn 3 to 5 words/phrases per day. This does not sound like a lot, but over 5 days it is 25 words a week extra. Look at me doing math, yay!

7 Playing Games - Have you thought about playing a game in your target language? I’ve played Guess Who in Mandarin Chinese online and at home in Spanish with my daughter. It is a fun way to learn a language and if you have family you can include them too.

8 Flash chats - Flash chat in your target language for 10 - 15 minutes. This is idea to do if you only get short lunch breaks or if you are limited on time for focused study. Why not flash chat 2 people in 20 minutes. Good way to learn target language with different accents.

9 Speak some of your target language before sleepy time - this is something I do and on the odd occasional I have even dreamt in French and Chinese. When you are sleepy apparently you are more subjective to what is being said. You are feeling sleepy…you will learn French.

10 Got a to do list? - Write it and attempt to read it out loud in your target language. Add language learning on your to do list then strike it off straight away! Bonus. I have even written shopping lists in my target language. Not so fun for the husband when it is written in Chinese and I was unable to go shopping with him.

Happy language learning and remember you can do this!

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Read more: 80-20 Rule Definition | Investopedia http://www.investopedia.com/terms/1/80-20-rule.asp#ixzz4OaxmU2IH