Staying motivated while learning a second language with ADHD means understanding how motivation works in ADHD.
In general, ADHDers’ ability to be focused and productive depends greatly on whether they find a task rewarding. With their deficits in top-down self-regulation, people with ADHD usually can’t “force” themselves to be motivated by something they find inherently uninteresting.
On the other hand, when people with ADHD are naturally inspired and engaged by an activity, they can pursue it energetically, even to the point of being “hyperfocused.”
For the purposes of language learning, then, you’ll be setting yourself up to stay motivated if you begin with a language you’re enthusiastic about.
Think about what your reasons are for learning this language.
Maybe you’re especially excited to learn more about the culture(s) that the language will give you access to. Maybe you have a personal connection to the language. The exact reason doesn’t matter as long as it’s meaningful to you and will be a source of inspiration for the hours put into practicing your language.
Language learning is a marathon, except with the most difficult part at the beginning.
That’s because learning a language can be divided into two phases:
In a way, the second phase takes the longest, but the beginning phase is the most difficult, especially with ADHD. Learning the basics is when you need to do the most rote studying, drilling new material, and adjusting your brain to the way your new language works.
In the grind of this early phase, motivation can flag. Fluency is so far off.
But there’s a light at the end of the tunnel, and it’s earlier than fluency. It’s when you get to the second stage of language learning.
Once you become comfortable with the basics, you reach the point where you can start learning by using the language. You can work through books (starting with simpler books, books you’ve read before in English, or dual-language books, for example). You can browse websites in your target language. You can listen to songs and look up the lyrics, start getting into some TV shows or movies.
These ways of learning provide more novelty and intrinsic reward than textbook exercises, so they work well for people with ADHD.
Getting to a level where you can learn the language more immersively is the goal in the first stage of language learning. Once you have the foundation for your language in place, learning starts to get more fun.