"I'm tired of learning English! I've been doing it for most of my life and I never seem to 'get there'"
?? A recent comment from a new coachee (and it's not the first time I've heard similar comments.)
Firstly, I want to say this: I completely empathise with this person! It is very frustrating for language learners, especially when they've been studying for a long time and still don't feel they've "arrived" at their goal.
Unfortunately for this person, they work in a multinational and really need English for their career. So, now we arrive at a common impasse: they need English, but they really don't feel motivated to continue learning.
Well, let me share a few ideas that have worked with my clients...
Steps to Get Back on Track with English Learning
- Take a Step Back and Reflect. Look at how far you've come! I'm sure if you think about it rationally, you can see that you've made a lot of progress. Maybe even write down a few specific improvements you’ve made over time, even if they seem small.
- Reevaluate Your Goals. Perhaps it's time to ask yourself what you're aiming for. Are your goals too broad or unrealistic? Break them down into smaller, more achievable tasks.
- Practice makes progress! Remember that perfection isn't the goal. Track your progress in small ways, like keeping a journal of new words or phrases you’ve learned.
- Set Short-Term, Achievable Goals. Set some specific, short-term goals. For example, “I want to be able to discuss my sector in English” or “I want to learn five new words this week.”
- Identify What’s Working and What Isn’t Don't just carry on using techniques which don't work for you. Think about which learning methods have been most effective for you. Are there any that just don’t seem to help? Focus on what has worked best.
- Incorporate Your Interests. Try mixing up English learning with things you enjoy, like watching YouTube videos on topics you love or reading about your hobbies in English.
- Change Up Your Routine. If you’re feeling stuck, change your learning routine. Try a new app, join a conversation group, or start a language exchange with a native speaker.
- Reconnect with Your Original Motivation. This one is very important! Remind yourself why you started learning English. Write down the reasons and keep them somewhere you can go back to them regularly.
- Ask for Help or Feedback. Don’t be afraid to ask your coach or peers for feedback. Sometimes an outside perspective can help you see things differently and get back on track.
If you feel you need some help getting 'back on track' with your English, then reach out on LinkedIn
I help high-achieving women in corporate sound confident when communicating in English. | Stop being anxious, get the recognition you deserve and unlock new opportunities. | Start here.????
6 个月I completely understand the frustration. In my experience, it's borne from years of following the traditional route of language learning instead of focusing on how to communicate in their context. Some people are excellent communicators but lousy language learners. We should focus on their strengths and dip into the language when it's necessary. Chris Bate
Unlocking #ESL Fluency & Accent Reduction at Lunchroom English Project | Unlock ?? your #English!
6 个月So important, Chris Bate. Renewing motivation is more effective than reviewing grammar or vocabulary. When I feel this way with my Japanese study, I look for a video on YouTube, a visual on Pinterest, or a post on Instagram in Japanese to spark my curiosity again.
Speak English confidently and fluently.
6 个月Chris Bate if what you've been doing is not working, it's time to reassess and look at different ways - great newsletter, thank you. It is so important to find the right teacher as well, so that you can connect and feel motivated to speak and share - after all, we speak because we feel the need to communicate.
International Professional English & Voice Training - Pronunciation - Pitching - Public Speaking - Script Writing
6 个月I would argue that it's the wrong goal. Most people don't want to learn English (do they have the desire to talk about grammar aspects and the difference between past simple and present perfect? - NO!) they need to use English and typically they struggle with speaking English. Speaking is a procedural skill and needs a procedural strategy. People get disheartened when they make mistakes when they speak but it's typically not their fault. If you hear "he haves" you've said it 6 times before you'll say it again (especially under pressure) even if you've studied "he has". Speech is a motor skill and requires motor memory to be activated effectively. So if you can't speak English, stop studying it and fix the issue. Learn how speech works and learn about connected English speech.