Have you felt like, no matter what you do, you can't learn English? That's a common feeling among the English learning community. When you think back over the last five or ten years, you might not notice any development in your abilities or accomplishments. Or perhaps you find it difficult to see how you will achieve your goals over the following few years. You're not alone.

In 1981,  Peter Drucker came up with the concept of  Management by Objectives, in which he included the acronym SMART, which you can use to guide your goal setting in general; however, in this blog you will learn how to use it for your English learning process.


When learning English as a second language, divide your goals into steps that are

  • Specific (simple, sensible, significant): 
Try to schedule your studies on a weekly basis and set aside one day for independent study, which should include time for class reviews. Planning your learning on a daily or weekly basis can be beneficial and will make tracking your progress simpler. This is especially true if you set realistic goals.

As an example of a specific goal, instead of perfecting academic writing, you may set a more realistic goal of learning five new linking expressions by the end of the week.

Also, ask yourself:

-What do I want to accomplish? (I want to get a C1 level, I want to take the IELTS test)
-Why is this goal important? (I will get a promotion, I'm going to be able to get a better job, I could travel more)
-Who is involved? (Am I going to study on my own, am I going to get a teacher?)
  • Measurable (meaningful, motivating).
It's important to have measurable goals, so that you can track your progress and stay motivated.

Try your best to participate as much as you can in class. Use the language and grammar your teacher has provided. Don't let making mistakes deter you; it's a necessary part of learning. Also, review your notes from a particular course and make an effort to memorize any key language or grammar issues.
  • Achievable (agreed, attainable).
Setting attainable goals may help you find previously unrecognized opportunities or resources that will help you achieve them. You will soon start to notice results if you take initiative and direct your own learning.

Some tips:
  • There are various language apps that can help you communicate with English speakers, but HelloTalk is by far the finest. You can use your language abilities outside the classroom with the aid of this app.
  • Check out these Platzi courses:  

  • Relevant (reasonable, realistic and resourced, results-based).
You must read and listen to as much English as you can if you want to succeed in learning the language, but it's important to make sure the subjects are ones you're interested in. Make it a habit to watch English-language TV series or movies, tune into radio programs and music, and read books and publications. There are countless options to read or listen to English because it is a truly international language.

When communicating in real situations, you will use your inborn language learning mechanisms, which will aid in language learning.
  • Time bound (time-based, time limited, time/cost limited, timely, time-sensitive).

Every objective requires a target date so that you have a deadline to concentrate on and a goal to strive for. Learning a language, whether it's English or another, may be difficult but rewarding. You must dedicate a lot of time and energy to moving forward, but you also need to form the proper habits. As we mention at the beginning, it is essential to set aside some time in order to study, on a daily or weekly basis.

To conclude, remember that you're the owner of your process. Teachers and materials are there as a guide for you to learn, but your commitment is the main tool for you to learn successfully.