When you learn a language, you are the driver and the car at the same time

Meeting in English. Hours pass. Lots of talking. Lots of presenting. Numbers, data, statistics, ideas. Tons of information. When the meeting is finally over, you are exhausted.

The next day you go through your notes and realize those hours were just a waste of time. You don't question the expertise of people attending the meeting.

?You question the efficiency.

?You question the effectiveness.

?If only you could have switched to your native language. Just like the other day. Instead of three hours, it took you thirty minutes to go over the agenda.

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?What's holding you back?

?The level of your English should not stop you.

You have definitely experienced the following: sometimes it happens you have not released the hand brake. And you don't notice it.

Surely, everybody speaks English. For travelling, small talk, or informal dinners, your level seems to be just fine. But then all of a sudden, your boss asks you to participate in very specific negotiations. You must be very precise and conscious of all the nuances that might come up.

Now what? You will give it a try. It is hard. It takes you longer than expected to put your message through. You lack vocabulary, you lack phrases, you lack real-life practice.

You step onto the gas pedal, but the car just won't accelerate the way you want it to.

What's wrong?

Have a thorough check-up of the car

From short-term perspective, vague goals like: "Next year, I wanna be at B2 level." seem to make sense. But what does it really mean?

Does it mean that next time you have a difficult issue to deal with and present it in front of colleagues from various countries, you will be effective and efficient enough?

Does it mean that next time you will be confident and words will come easy?

How much knowledge of English is enough when it never seems to be enough?

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When the brake is THE brake

The secret seems to be lying in identifying the real purpose of learning the language.

From long-term perspective, what is the real change it will enable?

If the course doesn't get you prepared for real life situations, what's the fuss then?

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You should learn for life.

You should learn to broaden your horizons in the specific area you work in.

During the course, you should simulate things that might come up and be trained to react swiftly.

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Beware, you cannot accelerate from 0 to 100 within a few seconds.

Take it steady. Be disciplined.

Know you direction and your style of driving.

Step by step, mile by mile, the car will eventually speed up.

You will not be looking for words. The words will appear straightaway.

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Step by step, mile by mile, you will eventually become a better version of yourself.

Fine-tuned and upgraded.

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So find a teacher with drive, release that hand brake and enjoy the ride!

Written by: Kamila Jancikova