Month 1 update on my 2025 intensive language learning project

I’m sharing my one-month update on my intensive Indonesian
learning project. My goal has been to reach at least a B1 level
before starting four months of full immersion in Indonesia, and
I’m happy to say that I’m well on track. Right now, I’m at a
strong A2 (upper beginner) level, making very fast progress. Over
the past month, I’ve been following a dedicated study routine,
which includes 1–2 hours of Anki flashcards, coursebook study
(Teach Yourself Indonesian and others), and language lessons 4–5
times per week, entirely in Indonesian. The biggest challenge has
been memorising large amounts of vocabulary, since Indonesian
isn’t related to any of my strongest languages. To tackle this,
I’ve been using AI-generated mnemonics and building custom Anki
decks, which has been incredibly helpful. I’ve also found that
Indonesian’s logical structure and root-word system make it
easier to expand my vocabulary quickly.


Looking ahead to the second month, I’m shifting my focus to
listening comprehension, as I still struggle to understand fast,
natural speech. To improve, I’ll be watching more Indonesian
content on TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram Reels, while also
creating my own Indonesian-language videos. I’ll continue my
intensive Anki routine (2 hours/day), now focusing on a new deck
with over 1,000 words, as well as some light grammar review.
Since I’ll be entering my immersion phase in just a month, I need
to be fully prepared to interact with native speakers in natural
conversations, especially in areas where people may never have
spoken to a foreigner before.


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