英文原文
How To Set S.M.A.R.T Goals For Language Learning — The Language Formula. I was never good at setting goals, let alone language learning goals. My typical approach was to randomly choose a language, start learning it with the excitement of a Labrador on a playground, and deal with problems as they revealed themselves. Well, it never worked out. My vague desire to "learn Polish" back in 2014 didn't help me define what I meant by "knowing Polish," when I wanted to show off my refined language skills, and why I needed it in the first place. As a result, my Polish fever never became anything more than a hobby. And, of course, I didn't end up knowing the language even though I spent a whole year trying to do so. However, in 2018, after less than a year of learning French, I was able to study at university in this language. My strategy didn't change: I learned French by myself, just like Polish. The only thing that changed was how I set my language learning goal. This time, I made it S.M.A.R.T. What are S.M.A.R.T. goals in language learning? The core of a good goal is logic. There are several elements to this logic, best summarized with the acronym S.M.A.R.T. When they were first introduced, these five letters represented the following: S. Specific M. Measurable A. Assignable R. Realistic T. Time-related. However, as the idea traveled through time and space, the last three letters obtained a couple of new definitions. A is often understood as "achievable" or "ambitious" (although I prefer to define it as "actionable"). R is seen as "relevant," and T is viewed as "trackable" or "time-bound." S.M.A.R.T. terminology is now more than a tool in the hands of C-level executives. Anyone can use it to turn any type of goal into the driving engine of a project. Let's see how to write S.M.A.R.T. goals for language learning. How SMART goals change your approach to language learning? Every word in the S.M.A.R.T. acronym acts as a filter. No matter how vague your initial idea about learning another language is, run it through these filters, and you’ll end up with a working language learning goal on your hands. Let’s take an example. I wanted to learn Spanish for a long time, and something tells me that this is the right moment to start. But before I can say that I’m serious about it, I have to think about the "learning Spanish" goal in SMART terms: Specific. “Specific” is an antonym of “vague”. It’s often helpful to think about specific language learning goals in terms of the proficiency level you want to achieve by a certain time.CEFR provides clear descriptions of what you can potentially do at, say, the B1 level as compared to the C2 level. If you are learning another language from scratch and aim to become more or less functional, B1 may be your choice. If, however, you’re working on a language you already know well, the best approach is to specify the areas you want to improve (pronunciation, particular grammar points, technical vocabulary, etc). In my case, I calculated that I need Spanish at the B2 level by September. (Next academic year, I’m planning to take courses in Spanish at my university, so I had better speak it well.) Measurable. The next question to ask is “How do I know when I’m done?” Only measurable goals are capable of providing a valid answer. This is another reason why I’m so fond of defining language learning goals within a framework of proficiency levels. You know that you’re done when you manage to pass a specific language test (such as DELF, DELE, or IELTS) at the appropriate level. So if, for instance, I need a proven B2 level in Spanish, I should probably take the DELE exam. When I pass it, the mission is complete. Actionable. As David Allen often puts it, “You don’t actually do a project; you can only do action steps related to it. When enough of the right action steps have been taken, some situation will have been created that matches your initial picture of the outcome closely enough that you can call it ‘done’.” In other words, you can’t just learn Spanish. But you can learn enough vocabulary, take in a sufficient amount of comprehensible input, and spend enough hours practicing speaking – after which you can say that you know Spanish. To make your language learning goals actionable, ask yourself a pro question: “What’s the next action?” and continue to do so until you parse this monstrosity called “learn Spanish” into minimal parts. An interesting thing will happen. You will end up with a set of objectives(short-term goals such as “listen to five levels of the Pimsleur language program“) and habits (daily actions such as “listen to one Pimsleur lesson every single day“). Objectives should be treated as mini-goals (the S.M.A.R.T.-er they are, the better). Habits should be planted into your daily routine. Realistic. Setting realistic goals in language learning means evaluating the volume of work you plan to get done against the resources you have. And this is where most language learners either overestimate their abilities or underestimate them. What do I mean by the volume of work? Simply put, it refers to the number of hours you need to devote to language learning. At this point, you may want to refer to the Foreign Service Institute study to get some raw numerical data on how much time is needed to learn a language. For instance, if I were to start learning Spanish from scratch, I would need to spend 600 hours to reach a solid B2 level. This amounts to approximately 6-7 months of intensive 3.5 hours a day language learning routine. I don't have 3.5 hours to spare right now, but I will have enough time by the end of the term. Moreover, I have already accomplished a similar feat with the DELF B2, so it is clearly not impossible. All this suggests that the most realistic language learning goal in my case would be to take the DELE B2 exam in 5-6 months (in July-August). Time-Bound. A "time-bound" goal sets a clear deadline by which the result must be achieved. Proficiency tests naturally provide deadlines for all sorts of goals in language learning. But obviously, they are not the only way of establishing a timeframe. An upcoming trip to a country where you would have to speak your target language may be a great example of a deadline. Depending on your target proficiency level, even a visit from an international friend, a job interview in another language, or any other event where your language skills will be tested may become your personal deadline. When setting a deadline, don't forget all the other elements that make up a SMART language learning goal. Keep it realistic. For me, the deadline is certainly the DELE B2 exam taken in July-August (as estimated in the previous step). My next action, then, is to land on the DELE website, find the test dates, and pick one that falls within this range more closely. What do you do with your SMART language learning goal? By the end of this exercise, you should be able to transform your language learning goals into something more specific, measurable, actionable, realistic, and time-bound: Learn Spanish -> Pass the DELE B2 exam on July 17th. Now, how can you make this goal work for you? Brainstorm. Brian Tracy, the author of the famous anti-procrastination guide “Eat That Frog” recommends writing down your ideas and moving on to project planning. It may sound like another "I'm never going to finish that" task, but in reality, nothing could be simpler. Just grab a piece of paper and jot down everything you may possibly need to complete the mission. And, by the way, if you have gone through each step of setting a SMART language goal, you already have half of it done. My list looked like this: * Get a DELE B2 preparation guide., * Register for the exam., * Make a list of audiobooks to listen to in Spanish., * Complete 5 levels of Spanish in Memrise., * Listen to one Pimsleur lesson every day until I'm done with all 5 levels., * Buy 3-4 Spanish books (choose which ones)., * Find YouTube channels and podcasts to listen to in Spanish., * Learn 15 new Spanish words with Memrise every day., * Go to Polyglot club each week and speak Spanish., * Collect a dozen Spanish articles in Readlang., At this point, it's just a draft, nothing concrete. You need to identify ideas that may be potentially useful for completing your SMART language learning goals. Organize. Once completed, this list will serve you well in organizing your workflow. As you look across and define your objectives, outline what you need to do in order to accomplish each of them. For example, if I want to listen to everything that the Pimsleur Spanish program has to offer, I have to buy at least the first level, download it onto my phone, ensure that everything is working, and plan when to listen to it. So, I list these tasks in order of priority and spend a day checking off all the "admin" stuff from the list. You know, getting those books, installing those apps, and figuring out how to do your Pimsleur lesson without looking like a schizophrenic. Execute. Execution is probably the simplest part of all of this. It's not hard to go for a half-hour walk while completing a daily Pimsleur lesson. Similarly, it takes nothing to grab Juan Salvador Gaviota, land in Starbucks with a cup of flat white, and read a chapter. Solving the DELE B2 guide, although mentally exhausting, is also not hard as long as there is a defined piece of work to complete. Setting a SMART goal for your language learning project may be mundane and time-consuming, but it has the potential to save years of wasted effort. So, do your thinking first. Stay S.M.A.R.T.
中文翻译
如何为语言学习设定S.M.A.R.T.目标——语言公式。我从来都不擅长设定目标，更不用说语言学习目标了。我的典型做法是随机选择一门语言，像游乐场上的拉布拉多犬一样兴奋地开始学习，然后问题出现时再处理。嗯，这从来都不奏效。2014年，我模糊地想要“学习波兰语”，但这并没有帮助我定义“懂波兰语”意味着什么，我什么时候想展示我精湛的语言技能，以及我为什么首先需要它。结果，我的波兰语热从未超越爱好的范畴。当然，尽管我花了一整年时间尝试，最终还是没有掌握这门语言。然而，在2018年，学习法语不到一年后，我就能用这门语言在大学学习了。我的策略没有改变：我自学法语，就像波兰语一样。唯一改变的是我设定语言学习目标的方式。这一次，我让它变得S.M.A.R.T.。什么是语言学习中的S.M.A.R.T.目标？一个好目标的核心是逻辑。这种逻辑有几个要素，最好用首字母缩写S.M.A.R.T.来总结。当它们首次被引入时，这五个字母代表以下含义：S.具体 M.可衡量 A.可分配 R.现实 T.时间相关。然而，随着这个想法穿越时空，最后三个字母获得了一些新的定义。A通常被理解为“可实现的”或“有雄心的”（尽管我更喜欢将其定义为“可行动的”）。R被视为“相关的”，T被视为“可追踪的”或“有时间限制的”。S.M.A.R.T.术语现在不仅仅是C级高管手中的工具。任何人都可以使用它将任何类型的目标转化为项目的驱动力。让我们看看如何为语言学习编写S.M.A.R.T.目标。S.M.A.R.T.目标如何改变你的语言学习方法？S.M.A.R.T.首字母缩写中的每个词都充当一个过滤器。无论你最初关于学习另一门语言的想法多么模糊，通过这些过滤器运行它，你最终会得到一个可行的语言学习目标。让我们举个例子。我想学习西班牙语很久了，某种感觉告诉我现在是开始的好时机。但在我能说我认真对待它之前，我必须用S.M.A.R.T.术语思考“学习西班牙语”这个目标：具体。“具体”是“模糊”的反义词。通常，根据你想在一定时间内达到的熟练程度来思考具体的语言学习目标是有帮助的。CEFR提供了清晰描述，说明你在B1水平与C2水平可能做什么。如果你从零开始学习另一门语言，并希望或多或少具备功能性，B1可能是你的选择。然而，如果你正在学习一门你已经很熟悉的语言，最好的方法是具体说明你想改进的领域（发音、特定语法点、技术词汇等）。就我而言，我计算出我需要在九月前达到西班牙语B2水平。（下一个学年，我计划在大学上西班牙语课程，所以我最好说得好。）可衡量。下一个要问的问题是“我怎么知道什么时候完成了？”只有可衡量的目标才能提供有效的答案。这是我喜欢在熟练水平框架内定义语言学习目标的另一个原因。当你通过特定语言测试（如DELF、DELE或IELTS）达到适当水平时，你就知道完成了。例如，如果我需要西班牙语B2水平的证明，我可能应该参加DELE考试。当我通过时，任务就完成了。可行动。正如大卫·艾伦常说的，“你实际上并不做一个项目；你只能做与之相关的行动步骤。当足够多的正确行动步骤被采取时，某种情况将被创造出来，与你最初对结果的设想足够接近，你可以称之为‘完成’。”换句话说，你不能只是学习西班牙语。但你可以学习足够的词汇，吸收足够量的可理解输入，并花费足够多的时间练习口语——之后你可以说你懂西班牙语。为了使你的语言学习目标可行动，问自己一个专业问题：“下一步行动是什么？”并继续这样做，直到你将这个名为“学习西班牙语”的庞然大物分解成最小的部分。有趣的事情会发生。你最终会得到一组目标（短期目标，如“听完Pimsleur语言课程的五个级别”）和习惯（日常行动，如“每天听一节课Pimsleur课程”）。目标应被视为迷你目标（它们越S.M.A.R.T.越好）。习惯应植入你的日常例程中。现实。在语言学习中设定现实的目标意味着评估你计划完成的工作量与你拥有的资源。这是大多数语言学习者要么高估要么低估自己能力的地方。我所说的“工作量”是什么意思？简单来说，它指的是你需要投入语言学习的小时数。此时，你可能想参考外交服务学院的研究，获取关于学习一门语言需要多少时间的原始数值数据。例如，如果我要从零开始学习西班牙语，我需要花费600小时才能达到坚实的B2水平。这相当于大约6-7个月每天3.5小时的强化语言学习例程。我现在没有3.5小时的空闲时间，但学期结束时我会有足够的时间。此外，我已经用DELF B2完成了类似的壮举，所以这显然不是不可能的。所有这些表明，对我来说最现实的语言学习目标是在5-6个月内（7-8月）参加DELE B2考试。有时间限制。“有时间限制”的目标设定了一个明确的截止日期，结果必须在此日期前实现。熟练度测试自然为语言学习中的各种目标提供了截止日期。但显然，它们不是建立时间框架的唯一方式。即将前往一个你必须说目标语言的国家旅行可能是截止日期的好例子。根据你的目标熟练水平，甚至国际朋友的来访、另一门语言的工作面试或任何其他测试你语言技能的事件都可能成为你的个人截止日期。设定截止日期时，不要忘记构成S.M.A.R.T.语言学习目标的所有其他要素。保持现实。对我来说，截止日期当然是7-8月参加的DELE B2考试（如先前步骤估计）。那么，我的下一步行动是登陆DELE网站，找到考试日期，并选择一个更接近这个范围的日期。你如何处理你的S.M.A.R.T.语言学习目标？在这个练习结束时，你应该能够将你的语言学习目标转化为更具体、可衡量、可行动、现实和有时间限制的东西：学习西班牙语 -> 在7月17日通过DELE B2考试。现在，你如何让这个目标为你工作？头脑风暴。著名反拖延指南《吃掉那只青蛙》的作者布莱恩·特雷西建议写下你的想法，然后进行项目规划。这听起来像是另一个“我永远完成不了”的任务，但实际上，没有什么比这更简单了。只需拿一张纸，记下你可能需要完成任务的一切。顺便说一句，如果你已经完成了设定S.M.A.R.T.语言目标的每一步，你已经完成了一半。我的清单是这样的：* 获取DELE B2准备指南。* 注册考试。* 制作西班牙语有声读物清单。* 在Memrise中完成5个级别的西班牙语。* 每天听一节课Pimsleur课程，直到我完成所有5个级别。* 购买3-4本西班牙语书籍（选择哪些）。* 找到西班牙语的YouTube频道和播客。* 每天用Memrise学习15个新西班牙语单词。* 每周去Polyglot俱乐部说西班牙语。* 在Readlang中收集十几篇西班牙语文章。此时，这只是一个草稿，没有具体内容。你需要识别可能对完成S.M.A.R.T.语言学习目标有用的想法。组织。一旦完成，这个清单将很好地帮助你组织工作流程。当你审视并定义目标时，概述你需要做什么来实现每一个目标。例如，如果我想听Pimsleur西班牙语课程提供的所有内容，我必须至少购买第一级，下载到手机上，确保一切正常，并计划何时听它。所以，我按优先级列出这些任务，并花一天时间从清单中勾选所有“管理”事项。你知道，获取那些书籍，安装那些应用程序，并弄清楚如何在不看起来像精神分裂症患者的情况下完成Pimsleur课程。执行。执行可能是所有这一切中最简单的部分。在完成每日Pimsleur课程的同时进行半小时散步并不难。同样，拿起《海鸥乔纳森》，带着一杯馥芮白降落在星巴克，读一章书也不费事。解决DELE B2指南，虽然精神上很累，但只要有一个明确的工作部分要完成，也不难。为你的语言学习项目设定S.M.A.R.T.目标可能单调且耗时，但它有可能节省多年的浪费努力。所以，先思考。保持S.M.A.R.T.。
文章概要
本文以个人经历为例，介绍了如何运用S.M.A.R.T.目标设定法来提升语言学习效果。S.M.A.R.T.代表具体、可衡量、可行动、现实和有时间限制，通过这五个过滤器将模糊的学习愿望转化为可执行的目标。文章详细阐述了每个要素的应用，如使用CEFR水平定义具体目标、通过考试衡量进度、分解为日常行动步骤、评估资源设定现实时间表，并强调头脑风暴、组织和执行的重要性。结合关键词“语言学习教练的目标追踪扩展技术”，本文展示了S.M.A.R.T.方法如何作为核心追踪工具，帮助学习者系统化目标，避免浪费努力，实现高效语言习得。
高德明老师的评价
1. 用12岁初中生可以听懂的语音来重复翻译的内容：这篇文章就像教你玩一个语言学习的闯关游戏！以前，作者想学波兰语，但只说“我要学”，结果一年都没学会，就像玩游戏没目标，乱跑一通。后来，他学法语时用了S.M.A.R.T.方法，就像给游戏设定了清晰关卡：具体要学到B2水平（比如能上大学课），可衡量就是通过DELE考试，可行动是每天听一节课，现实是算好需要600小时，有时间限制是7月考试。这样，他不到一年就成功了！这方法让学习变得像打怪升级，超酷！
2. 焦点解决心理学理论评价：从焦点解决视角看，S.M.A.R.T.目标设定完美体现了“解决方案聚焦”和“目标导向”原则。它不纠缠于过去失败（如学波兰语的模糊尝试），而是积极构建未来成功画面（如通过DELE考试）。每个要素都强化了资源导向：具体化挖掘内在动机，可衡量提供进展反馈，可行动将大目标分解为小步骤，现实性评估现有能力，时间限制创造紧迫感。这就像在语言学习中植入了一个“例外时刻”引擎，将学习者的注意力从“问题”转向“可能性”，赞美了人类设定和达成目标的天然潜能。
3. 在实践上可以应用的领域和可以解决人们的十个问题：S.M.A.R.T.目标追踪技术可广泛应用于语言学习教练、教育咨询、个人发展培训等领域。它能帮助人们解决：一、学习动力不足，通过具体目标激发兴趣；二、进度模糊不清，用可衡量指标清晰追踪；三、行动拖延，分解为日常小步骤；四、目标不切实际，基于资源调整期望；五、时间管理混乱，设定截止日期提高效率；六、自我怀疑，通过小成功积累信心；七、资源浪费，优化学习计划；八、社交焦虑，在俱乐部练习中突破；九、技能提升瓶颈，针对弱点改进；十、终身学习坚持，养成可持续习惯。这展现了目标设定如何点亮学习之路，开启无限成长空间。