How much should you challenge yourself in language learning? According to most studies, lessons should be moderately difficult but not enough to overwhelm. That means taking on tasks that present a decent amount of challenge while being achievable within your current level.
Ever wondered why almost all language acquisition software begins with memorizing simple phrases? It’s because that’s all the difficulty that complete beginners can handle. If you’re learning French for the first time, would you prefer to be overwhelmed with grammar and syntax lessons? Or would you rather be eased into it by starting with the simplest things to learn?
How do you know you’re being sufficiently challenged? The best indicator is that you’re not breezing through it. If you are, you may want to consider raising the ante up a notch, lest the ease ends up boring you. If you find yourself struggling, on the other hand, consider either going back or moving at a slower pace.
Similarly, never discount the importance of immersion. You can study all you want, but if you don’t apply the things you learn in the real world, you can end up leaving various aspects of your overall development undone.
This careful balance between the easily-learnable and the taste for the unknown is the ideal pressure point for language learning. As such, it’s important to choose materials that support such a graduated approach to study.