This week, consider journaling in your target language. This might mean writing down three words you remember. For example, if you had coffee sometime today, write “coffee” in the language you’re studying (if you know it). If you know, “I drink coffee” (or “I don’t drink coffee”), write that! Don’t worry about verb tenses–“Well technically, it should be I drank coffee…”.

NO! Your goal is to get out a thought or two on paper. (Or the shower stall glass door when it’s fogged up: write a word there, don’t just draw a smiley face!) Did you greet anyone with, “Hello” or “Good morning” today [in English]? Then write the equivalent in your language to indicate that. If you’re ready for a full sentence or two, try that on for size. Work at your own level and pace.

The most important takeaway here is to use what you already know. If you don’t know the word, move on. Use a word you do–the word might not be precise, it might not be perfect, but it will get the job done. Not sure about truck? Say car. Not sure about toast? Say bread. We have to train ourselves to get to the point a little faster in the language we are studying. “Me! Bread! Now!” It’s not pretty–perhaps, pretty humbling!–but you’ve made your point, right?

EXTRA: Oh, so you think you’re hardcore?! Send me a photo of your handwritten scrawls in another language! (I won’t grade you, promise.)