Language guru Greg Thomson observes that, “if we ignore a whole bunch of problems, the hardest thing about language learning is getting started. The second hardest thing about learning another language is not quitting.”
The subject of Sustaining then is the second half of that thought. Not quitting. Keeping at it. Putting in the time. Sustaining. It is probably true about much in life that we see as difficult -those who achieve their goals keep at them.
(Click Here to Read Sustaining Now)
Instant success is an anomaly that we dare not count on.
In my writing I want more than any thing else to empower language learners toward success. As I observe and watch and get to know people who want to learn another language but who have yet to find the success they desire, Thompson’s prognosis seems exactly on the mark.
If you have gotten started, the challenge now is to keep going.
The dictionary defines sustain in this way: to cause to continue or be prolonged for an extended period or without interruption. In order to be successful as a language learner we need to find it in ourselves to continue at it for an extended period of time.