More Frequent, Less Fatigue: Why Short, Consistent English Lessons Work Best

Many students believe that longer lessons mean faster progress in language learning. It seems logical—spending more time in class should lead to more learning, right? But research and experience show otherwise.

When it comes to learning English effectively, how often you study matters more than how long each session lasts. This is why my lessons are 40 minutes long, and why I recommend two or three lessons per week instead of one long session. Short, frequent lessons help you stay focused, retain information better, and build long-term fluency.

Whether you're one of my students in Vincennes, enrolled in an English course with CPF, or simply working on your English independently, understanding why frequency is more effective than long study sessions will help you learn more efficiently.

Why 40 Minutes? The Science of Focus

Many students ask me: "Why not longer lessons?" The answer is simple: learning a language takes time, but your brain has limits.

Here’s why 40-minute lessons work so well:

✔️ Better focus – Research shows that most people can concentrate for 40–50 minutes before losing efficiency. After that, mental fatigue sets in, making it harder to absorb new vocabulary and grammar.

✔️ More energy – Speaking and thinking in English is mentally demanding. After 40 minutes, students often feel tired, which affects their ability to retain information. Shorter lessons allow you to stay alert and engaged.

✔️ Easier to schedule – A 40-minute lesson is easy to fit into a busy day. This makes it more likely that you will keep a steady learning routine, especially for professionals and students balancing multiple responsibilities.

If you're taking private lessons in English with me or following an E-learning course, structuring your study time into shorter, more frequent sessions will give you the best results.

Why Frequent Study Sessions Help You Learn Faster

Think of language learning like going to the gym.

🏋️‍♂️ If you go to the gym for 3 hours once a week, you’ll feel exhausted but won’t build real strength.💪 If you go for 40 minutes, three times a week, your body will grow stronger and more flexible over time.

The same is true for your brain! Frequent, short study sessions help your brain retain and recall information better.

📌 The Spacing Effect – Studies show that we remember more when we study in short, repeated sessions instead of long, infrequent ones. This principle is well-documented in psychology and education research.

📌 Memory Retention – A 2015 study on the Ebbinghaus Forgetting Curve found that without regular review, people forget nearly 80% of what they learn within a few days. But spaced repetition, where you practice information at intervals, improves long-term memory.

So remember, whether you're one of my students in an English course in Vincennes, or studying on your own, regular exposure to English is far more beneficial than trying to do too much at once.

What Happens When You Don’t Use English Between Lessons?

Today, one of my students told me:💬 "Our last lesson was six days ago, and I did nothing in English until today. I finished my activities just a few hours before class."

❌ This is an inefficient way to learn!

Doing a lot of English on one day, but nothing on other days, slows your progress.

The best way to improve is to engage with English a little every day—even just 5–10 minutes can make a big difference!

Here’s what happens when you don’t practice between lessons:

🚨 You forget words and grammar rules.

🚨 Your brain has to "restart" every lesson.

🚨 You don’t build confidence because you don’t get enough practice.

But when you use English every day, you:

✔️ Remember more vocabulary.

✔️ Understand grammar more easily.

✔️ Speak more naturally and feel more confident.

For those of you taking an English course with CPF through me, daily practice—whether listening to English podcasts, watching short videos, or reviewing class notes—will dramatically improve results.

The Best Learning Routine: Small, Consistent Steps

So, what’s the best way to study?

✔️ 40-minute lessons, 2–3 times per week.

✔️ Short, daily activities between lessons—reading, watching short videos, or writing a few sentences in English.

✔️ Regular listening and speaking practice—even if it’s just talking to yourself in English!

The goal is not just to "study" English—it’s to integrate it into your daily life. If you're one of my students in Vincennes, or simply following your own E-learning course, make sure to follow this approach for the best results.

Short, frequent practice will always be better than long, irregular study sessions.

Have you tried studying a little every day instead of long sessions once a week? What worked best for you? Let me know in the comments!

Remember: Language learning is a marathon, not a sprint. Small, frequent steps will take you much further than trying to do everything at once. Trust the process, stay consistent, and you will see results!

Bibliography

1. Harvard Business Review – The Science of Learning: Why Spaced Repetition Works. Retrieved from https://hbr.org

2. Ebbinghaus Forgetting Curve – Memory Retention and the Importance of Review. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/basics/memory

3. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience – Effects of Distributed Practice on Long-Term Retention. Retrieved from https://journals.physiology.org/doi/full/10.1152/advan.00109.2016

4. National Institutes of Health (NIH) – Memory Retention and Learning Techniques. Retrieved from https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4492928

5. The Pomodoro Technique – Work and Study Efficiency. Retrieved from https://www.pomodorotechnique.com