We’ve all heard about Mindfulness and its benefits; it helps reduce stress, improve sleep and increase focus. But what exactly is it, and how can it help you learn a second language? 

Mindfulness in a Flash

Mindfulness is the art of living in the moment or put another way, paying attention to what is going on around you. A mindfulness practice could be something like sitting and focusing on your breath, walking slowly and remaining aware of all the sensations, or listening to a friend and making sure you’re not thinking about what you’re going to make for dinner. Whatever the practice may be, it’s usually designed to bring your attention to what’s going on in the present moment. And it’s in your ability to do so that you gain the benefits..

A Great Way to Practice a Language

Years ago, as I was preparing for a trip to Costa Rica, I came across a book by the Vietnamese monk, Thich Nhat Hanh, called Zen Keys.  It introduced me to Mindfulness and was full of practical exercises I could weave into my days. One of which was the use of gathas: small poems or statements monks would repeat to themselves to keep their minds focused on the present. They had these for everything: doing the dishes, washing their hands, sweeping, walking, you name it, there is a gatha.

It was such a simple concept I decided to try it out for myself. And to my delight, when I arrived in Costa Rica, I discovered that it was also a great way to practice Spanish.  As I went about my days, walking along beaches, eating gallo pinto and picking up stones, I would say what I was doing in English and then try to say it in Spanish. If I didn’t know how, I would note it, find the correct sentence and practice it the next day. It worked wonderfully. Not only was it efficient, allowing me to practice Mindfulness and Spanish simultaneously, but it was a perfect language learning exercise for four main reasons.

1 – Repetition is Important

Learning a language takes repetition. Not only do you have to know grammar, structure and how sentences work, but you have to train yourself to speak reflexively. Just like learning to throw a ball, shoot a puck, or any physical task, learning to speak fluently means developing reflexes, which takes a lot of repetition. So, walking around, repeating to yourself what you’re doing while you’re doing it is an excellent way to practice your desired language and get that much needed repetition.

 2 – It’s Kinesthetic

I’m a very kinesthetic learner, and you may be too. Some people learn by seeing, others learn by hearing, I learn by doing. If I can practice it physically, I will remember it ten times more quickly. Using the gathas allowed me to embody the language I was speaking—physically associating what I was doing with the words I was saying.

3 – It Adapts to Your Needs

Not only does this practice allow you to turn any menial task into a language learning activity, but you can also adapt the exercise to your level.  Once a sentence gets too easy, you can change it to teach yourself something new. So when “I’m walking down the street” gets old, you add the other pronouns: she is walking, it is walking, we are walking, etc.

You can go even further by adding adjectives or describing your experience, such as “I am walking slowly” or “I feel my feet on the ground.” The more specific you can be, the more your language develops.

4 – It Highlights What You Need to Learn

One of the most significant advantages of using this method is that it brings to light the things you don’t know how to say. It’s easy to think you’re fluent until you bend down to tie your shoes and realize you have no idea how to say what you’re doing. As you practice you find where you lack and slowly learn to narrate your world.

 Language in the Present

It might not seem like much, but simply stating what you’re doing helps you keep your mind on the present. In this age of meeting multiple demands and fighting to get everything done, a Mindfulness exercise that also helps you learn a language is a gift.

Give it a try. I suggest sticking to a few simple sentences, adding the pronouns to make the sentences more interesting and going from there. Be creative and keep it present.

Good luck and have fun!