Newsletter 7 - Take a break

.. description: Discover why taking breaks is essential for memory consolidation and neuroplasticity. Learn how rest periods help your brain process and retain new language skills.



Newsletter 7 - Take a break

“When’s the last time you disconnected and took a vacation?”― Tina Hallis

Last weekend was Christmas, next weekend is New Year : there's a good chance you might be chillin' this week. You might not have taken a break per say, but hopefully things are a little slower, there's a little holiday lull going on.

As far as Language Learning, here's what taking a break might look like to you:

• A what break? I don't need a break, I need to get back to working on it (in which case, e-mail me now!)

• When I take a break from work, I take a break from my language learning because the only reason why I'm doing this is for work (you shouldn't see it that way, change your mindset, e-mail me now!)

• My coach/trainer/teacher is off, so I'm on a language learning break too (what? I'm not your coach? change coaches, e-mail me now!)

• I needed a break from everything (honestly me too!)

I'm a true believer in taking breaks from ACTIVE language learning. I think sometimes we need to give our brains the time and space it needs to process. Let things sink in.

How then, can you take a break from active learning but still be connected to the language in a PASSIVE (yet pleasant) way?

The usual suspects:

• Continue watching your favorite series in French (for example)

• Read a book you'd normally read in your native language (if you like to read)

• Love watching sports? subscribe to sport channels in French

• Love cooking? try some recipes found on a youtube channel in French

• Discover new podcasts (or music) in French for when you're walking or running

• Discover new podcasts (or music) in French to listen to when folding laundry, ironing, cooking or dusting ;-)

And the less usual suspects:

• Do you practice yoga? follow a yoga teacher who teaches in French

• Do you meditate? Do your guided meditations in the language you want (Insight timer for instance has meditations in French; or Petit Bamboo is a French meditation app)

• Write 3 sentences every evening about 3 things you can remember about your day (try to aim for 3 positive things, so you can associate French to positive thoughts)

• Take an empty container. Every week, make a note of something great that happened during that week and put the note in the container. Open the container 52 weeks later and look back at a pretty great summary of your year...in French!

OR JUST CHILL AND DO NOTHING. THAT WORKS TOO.

If you're curious about my sources or want to know more about laughteryou should click here

And if you want to go back on my other newsletters that cover all kinds of brain related, language related, coaching related fascinating subjects, I suggest you go tomy newsletter webpage

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Links & Resources

Newsletter 7 — Links and Ressources about Taking a Break