You know, one thing my students often ask me when they’re feeling a bit down (or when they’re looking for a way to dodge the lesson) is how to stay motivated to study.
I don’t usually take the bait (if I understand that it’s the second case), but when I do, I tell them the story of how I improved my English and went from getting a “D” in my English O’ Levels exam to band 8.0 in IELTS without preparing for the exam.
This generally works to lift their spirits. And I see them returning to their studies with a little more enthusiasm. But here’s the kicker with motivation: it shows up for a short visit and then goes away for a longer vacation.
So, I used to ask myself what I should do or say to them to keep them motivated constantly.
After a little brainstorming, I came up with three things anyone can do to keep their motivation levels high when they are learning something and shared them with my students.
Some of them incorporated these tips into their daily routines and slowly started to see the results.
Therefore, today, I’ll share these three hacks with you.
Not into reading? Watch this YouTube video instead!
1. Set Goals That Excite You
One of the very first questions I ask a new batch of students is which country they want to move to after they are done with their IELTS exam.
Around 50% of the students raise their hands and can give me the name of the country that they have been dreaming of living in. And amongst those fifty per cent, only a handful of them can tell me which university and programs they have targeted.
So, what about the other half?
They have no idea where they want to go and say they’ll figure it out after they have got their desired IELTS score. Some of them even tell me they’ll decide on a destination based on their score.
In my opinion, that’s the exact opposite of what anyone who’s aspiring to study abroad should be doing.
Look, if you don’t have a goal you’re moving towards in the first place, it is going to be very difficult for you to move forward at all.
Find Your “Why”
First, figure out your why.
Why are you studying for the IELTS test?
Why are you trying to improve your English?
Is it to study abroad? Great! Now, try to get some details to turn your wishful thinking into an achievable goal.
Here are some questions to help you define your goal:
- Which country do you want to go to?
- Which city?
- Which university?
- Which program?
- Are you planning to apply during the September intake or the January intake?
- Which year?
This is not only going to give you a deadline (a date by which you need to have your IELTS result) but it’s also going to give you the push you need to sit in front of your study desk.
Taking the IELTS for Professional Reasons?
Now, what if you’re not studying English to study abroad? What if it’s more for a professional reason?
Do the exact same thing!
Are you studying English because the company you want to work for requires you to prove your English proficiency skills?
Many companies, even in non-English speaking countries, have this requirement. Create a list of companies that you envision yourself working for.
You could even be trying to improve your English to enjoy pop culture more. Maybe you have a group of friends who talk a lot about foreign movies, books, series, or songs and you want to take part in that conversation.
If that’s the case then shortlist a list of books, movies, or series and start curating them.
2. Surround Yourself with Constant Reminders
Alright, so you’ve got your goal set. Awesome! But how do you keep that goal at the top of your mind every day?
Visual Cues Everywhere
Let’s turn your environment into a motivation powerhouse! Change your wallpaper to the flag of the country you want to go to or the cityscape of the city you want to live in. Print out a picture of the campus of your target university and paste it on your wall.
Every time you glance at your phone, your laptop, or your room, you’ll get a little nudge reminding you why you’re putting in the effort. It’s like having a cheerleader squad, but quieter and with more flags and pictures.
Example of an Actual Student
I once had a student who had a very unique wallpaper; it was a screenshot of the IELTS Listening band scores. I asked him why he had that as his wallpaper and he replied it was to constantly remind himself how many questions he needed to get right to get a band 6.5.
This particular student was struggling the most with the Listening Module and instead of being scared of the test, he was facing it head-on.
I saw him slowly improving his scores with every mock test he sat for and I’m glad to say that in the end, he did end up getting his desired band score in the IELTS Listening test.
And if he can do it, so can you!
3. Keep the Momentum Going with Consistent Actions
Motivation is great, but let’s be real, it’s consistency that’s going to get you to the finish line. Here’s how to keep the ball rolling:
Make it a Habit
Set a few small, regular actions that you do every day. The key here is to make them so easy that you have no excuse to skip them.
Here are some simple yet effective daily actions you can take:
| Daily Actions | Description |
| Learn 5 new words | Expand your vocabulary every day by learning new words and using them in sentences. |
| Read a page from a book | Make it a habit to read a page from an English book daily, be it fiction or non-fiction. |
| Watch a video in English | Engage with English content like TED Talks, vlogs, or educational videos to enhance listening skills. |
Once you’ve done one (or all) of these, you’ll give yourself a sense of accomplishment. That in turn is going to motivate you to study for the IELTS test.
By incorporating these small, manageable tasks into your daily routine, you’ll build a steady rhythm that will not only improve your English but also make studying feel less daunting.
Stay Motivated
Staying motivated while learning English can be a challenge, but with clear goals, constant reminders, and consistent actions, you can keep your motivation high. Remember, it’s a journey, and every step you take brings you closer to your destination.
Keep pushing, stay consistent, and watch your English skills soar and you’ll be one step closer to getting your desired IELTS score!
What tip are you going to try first? Let me know in the comments below! If you found this post helpful, share it with your friends and keep the motivation train going. Until next time, keep learning and stay motivated!
