What does it mean?
It means training your mind to actively notice, analyze and understand specific rules and patterns in a new language.
There are 3 steps of conscious language learning:
1)noticing: You must first consciously perceive a new sound, word, or structure in the language.
2)analyzing: You look at text to figure out how a grammar rule works on your own.
3)connecting: You link new forms to meaning so your brain stores them effectively
Unfortunately nothing in this world comes without practicing and experiencing.
How can you do it?
You can do it by finding patterns. Read a short text and highlight every time a specific verb tense appears.
Or you can compare languages. Look at how a sentence is built in your new language versus your native tongue.
Then focus on feedback. Pay close attention when someone corrects your mistakes to spot the gap in your knowledge.
British Council gives an example how to practice: „Learners studying the contracted form 'didn't' first may become aware that the form exists in English, then recognize it when they hear it and distinguish it from other sounds, and then produce it themselves.“
So don’t rush! Take time to learn a language consciously if you want to keep it. Remember to start by building awareness, then focusing on recognition and finally production.
Source: https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/professional-development/teachers/teaching-knowledge-database/c/consciousness-raising and AI