Language Maintenance Manual

How do you stay in touch with a language you don’t use every day?

Learning a language is one thing, but maintaining it? That’s a whole different challenge. Whether you once studied a language, grew up bilingual but rarely use your second language, or simply want to keep a language alive in your mind, staying connected to it can feel like a struggle.

It's no problem to keep learning and refining your skills when you're immersed in the language - living in a country where it's spoken, using it regularly at work, or motivated by exams and deadlines.

But without daily use or real-life exposure, words start slipping away, and fluency fades. It takes motivation, perseverance, and willpower to keep going. If you’ve ever tried to maintain a workout routine or healthy eating habits, you know this is the point where we all tend to fumble.

Let me tell you - it’s totally okay to go through ups and downs. And don’t worry - there are plenty of creative, engaging, and fun ways to keep your language alive.

Just like your house plants, all it takes is a little TLC (tender loving care) - unless, of course, you’re the type of person who can’t even keep a cactus alive.

Here are 10 fun, creative, and sometimes slightly quirky ways to keep your language from getting rusty:

1. Create a Mini Immersion Bubble

You don’t need to move abroad to surround yourself with your target language - you can build a small but mighty immersion experience right where you are:

• Follow social media accounts, listen to music, and watch Netflix shows (bonus points for subtitles in the language, or no subs at all.)

It’s not exactly active use, but your linguistic muscles will still get a workout.

Weird, slightly creepy fact: The algorithms will start serving you more content in that language - embrace it!

2. Turn Everyday Tasks into Language Practice

Make language part of your daily routine in bite-sized bits:

• Write grocery lists, to-do lists, or notes to yourself in the language.

• Label household objects - even your fridge, your cat, and your houseplants deserve a name. (Yes, even the dead ones.)

3. Keep a Journal (or Just Doodle!)

Write a few sentences each day about what happened, what you ate, or what weird dream you had last night.

Not a fan of journaling? Try mind-mapping, doodling, or labeling your social posts in your target language.

4. Talk to Yourself (Yes, Really!)

My ultimate favourite activity!

If speaking opportunities are limited, create them yourself! Thinking in the language helps you stay connected to it.

• Describe what you see around you.

• Rehearse imaginary conversations, or argue with yourself (just don’t lose).

• Play out scenarios or movie scenes in your head. Imagine bumping into that hot lead from the movie you just watched. What would you say to them? How would that play out? Let your imagination run wild!

  (It can happen in real life too, in case you're wondering. Just Google how Matt Damon met his wife.)

5. Talk to AI (It's Fun, I Promise)

Use AI chatbots or your phone's virtual assistant for short conversations. It's way better than doomscrolling!

• Ask it to tell you a joke, chat about the weather, or be that curious kid on a never-ending question spree. If you're short on inspiration from local playgrounds, public transport (that's where I hear the funniest stuff), or your own childhood here are a few to get you started:

  • What's the biggest animal in the world?

  • Why is the sky blue?

  • How do birds fly?

  • Why do we need to sleep?

  • How far is the moon?

  • Why do we have to brush our teeth?

Yay! You’re not just practicing a language - you’re also learning cool facts. You'll never know when they come in handy.

6. Find a Language-Loving Community

This is the secret, not so secret key to success: surround yourself with people who won’t let you fail.

Join online forums, Discord servers, or language meetups (virtual or in person).

No group catching your attention? Start one yourself! Pitch the idea to your buddies, coworkers, or the wide waters of the internet - there’s bound to be people looking for the same thing. Plus, you get to set the tone, theme, and rules (and likely make some new friends along the way).

7. Find a Language Buddy

Find someone who is also trying to maintain their skills - either in the same language or in one you’re fluent in. You can chat in the target language or alternate and be each other’s guide.

8. Stay Current with Culture (The Non-Boring Way)

Stay in touch with the language’s culture by following news, trends, memes, and viral videos. Subscribe to a YouTube channel or podcast that covers entertainment, sports, or quirky news in the language.

I especially love podcasts because I can listen while cooking, DIY-ing, or doing the dishes.

9. Use Your Hobbies as a Learning Tool

Whatever you love doing, do it in your target language. If it’s fun, you’ll stick with it.

• Follow fitness workouts, recipes, sewing tutorials, climbing gear tests - you name it.

• Live vicariously through van life, thru-hiking, kayaking, ultra-running, or bush plane flying adventures.

• Play video games.

• Dive into books and comics.

10. Bonus Wacky Tip: Create an Alter Ego

Invent a version of yourself who only exists in your target language. Give them a name, a backstory, and a personality. Maybe they’re an undercover spy, a time traveler, or a hopeless romantic. When you practice, step into their shoes - mistakes feel less embarrassing when they’re part of the act!