Rockstar, guitarist and singer-song writer Peter Frampton woke up one fine day and wrote two songs one after the other. They were two of his very big hits “Show me the way” and “Baby I love your way”. So strong was the urge and the inspiration on that day that he penned the songs almost instantaneously. Peter would later confess in several interviews that he wished many days of his life were like the day he woke up to write these two hits. Similar incidents have happened to authors, poets, sport personalities and scientists. Several books, poems, scientific discoveries and superhuman feats were the outcome of inspired work that happened in these moments.

Is there a lesson in this incident that happened to Peter Frampton that can language learners and students can learn. Hasn’t the following happened to you many times? You had this big urge to do something at a particular time of day for no reason. No other work at that time seemed important to you but this particular one. These are your “Peaks” in a day where you can produce optimal creative output, in short “a peak performance”. To convert these moments to your advantage is the best way to use them because the mind is very receptive and sharp during these moments. When we are young we experience more of these but as we grow older these moments become fewer.

And just as there are “Peaks” there are “Downs” too, the opposite of “Peaks”. The bad habits are to force yourself to work when you are in your “Downs” and to distract yourself putting off doing the thing your mind and body are telling you to do when you are having a “Peak”. Forcing yourself to work in your “Downs” (this happens very frequently when you are cramming for exams) exerts enormous stress on the mind and body. In these moments work ceases to be a joy. Forcing yourself to do something such as language learning during these hours is hardly going to be enjoyable and worse, will impair language-learning.

The trick to knowing when you are having a “Peak” is to listen to your body. There are times when music no longer appeals to on your drive back home from work. Keep your language lessons on tape or CD handy and listen to them instead. Even on a relaxing holiday there are times when you have a strong urge to work. Carry your portable audio player and your language lessons with you. They are not going to take a lot of luggage space. If you don’t have them around try and work on a small notepad.  It will pay off well later.

Can you create or initiate a “Peak”? Though not exactly a “Peak” there are moments in a day when you can be at your learning best. This largely depends on your personality and lifestyle. If you are an early riser you will realise that working in the early hours of the morning is the most productive for you. So it will best for you to not waste those precious early hours. For others the quiet of the evening and the still of the night are the most conducive learning environments. While many prefer to stay indoors there are others who even use the outdoors for study.

Whether it is a natural “Peak” or an induced one, be on the lookout for such moments and use them to your advantage and enhance your language study.