Follow along and take notes
Watch the lesson through once. Then watch it again while following along. You can also follow along from the start.
Take notes. Write down important steps, tips and tricks.
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Have an end goal in mind when you're learning.
- What do you want to do with this information?
- How is it going to improve your life?
Even if you just want to do it for fun, find a project you can't do without learning the skill.
Set some time aside to see what courses are available.
Take advantage of any free lessons, watch the introductions to their classes and see if the instructor will be a good fit for your skill level and speed.
Watching online tutorial videos can become addictive. Keep in mind that you are trying to learn something, not get distracted.
How long you would be able to study depends on the density of the subject and the level of your knowledge about the subject.
Find out the ideal time you can dedicate to learning, and also resting.
Don't try to push yourself and to fill your mind with too much information in one session. Try to learn over multiple days to let the information sink in.
Once you've learned a new skill, try it out for yourself. You will make mistakes. When you do, review your notes and keep going.
You'll learn the most from your own early errors.
Once you've learned something, review it regularly to make sure you don't forget it.
It is not necessary to actively watch a lesson you've already seen. However, it can be useful to have one on in the background so you can tune in and out as needed.
RELATED IDEAS
Feedback is vitally important to evaluate how well you're doing and to identify areas for improvement. Faster feedback is always better.
- Share work publicly: Even if it feels scary, sharing your work is essential for improvement.
- Be very specific: Pick a particular element and ask for direct feedback.
- Ask for negative feedback: "What is one aspect that could be improved?"
- Don't make it about you: It's helpful to remove yourself from the question when asking for feedback. "What is the one thing I could've done" makes the feedback more personal and may make the person hesitant to give critical feedback.
At the beginning of learning a language, your goal could be to read a new alphabet or some basic phrases to introduce yourself. As you improve, you can add other goals.
Deciding on goals include how to get there. Consider what you want to get out of learning a new language. Do you want to chat with locals, or do you want to read untranslated novels? Clarity on your goals will help you to think strategically about the methods that will help you most.
To be successful at mastering a skill ensures it is applicable. Being able to use a skill to objectively better your life is a great motivator.
The perfect skill either solves a problem you’re facing or scratches an itch you have. Otherwise, you’ll find yourself lacking the motivation and perseverance necessary to be successful.