If we take a look at our breath, for example, we'll see that we have a choice: when we're conscious of it, we can control the breath, but for the most part, the breath happens to us.
Among the broken fragments of the last five minutes at table I remember the candles being lit again, pointlessly, and I was conscious of wanting to look squarely at every one and yet to avoid all eyes.
Maybe it's too late to fix it in that moment but you will be more likely to remember next time and to change the words that you're using and that's really what being conscious of your mistakes means.
I'm washing the dishes, and I'm conscious of washing the dishes because if I don't think about washing the dishes I will not be present in the act of washing the dishes.
So to summarize, number one goal in language learning is to acquire words, keep that as your goal, keep that as your major activity, be conscious of the fact that you are acquiring these words.
I have noticed that about five minutes before the end of one of my regular weekly meetings, the person chairing it will say, " I'm conscious of time" .