The initial peak of motivation when learning a language is, more often than not, temporary. Confidence and hope coming from progress are almost always crashed by encounters with native speakers, making one realize that despite doing well in classroom conditions, one does not understand the language in real life despite all the hard work. Eagerness to learn transforms into a crippling fear of never achieving fluency. Being constantly paralyzed when speaking a foreign language is something normal in the beginning, but at the same time, most discouraging and thwarting. It’s a vicious cycle where the urge to be exposed to the language battles with the yearning to give up. While surviving that phase is easier for linguists who enjoy the learning process, others who require dopamine from tangible results, will have their willpower definitely challenged. Identifying as the latter, I’m probably a masochist to have decided to learn multiple foreign languages; however, it led me to discover unconventional learning methods that might come in handy for those who struggle to reach fluency.
Feel the language
In the primary stage of learning a language, it is impossible to skip the course-like studying, as faster speed is necessary for a foreigner to catch up with those who have spoken the language forever. Nonetheless, the moment we are ready to maintain a longer conversation with native speakers, it’s also time to switch to a more intuitive mode of learning, at least in a hybrid way. Every language is unique and means thinking and feeling differently. It has already been proven even the words meaning one thing in a dictionary do not feel the same. It goes without saying higher proficiency levels will always be locked for someone who does not approach the language intuitively because some things cannot be translated or memorized. Moreover, the worst flaw of course-like learning is acquiring the habit of translating words in the head, which is very helpful at first, but in later stages, it becomes an obstacle that impedes fluency.
That being said, it’s essential to absorb the language from the environment and learn how to feel it. The best way of learning to think in a foreign language is by observing and describing it using the language in the head. The same technique works great with nighttime reflections on life before falling asleep. It will gradually improve your ability to think in another language and expand the aspects of daily life where you can use it. The next step is feeling what you learn. Instead of memorizing new expressions with their definitions in your mother tongue, ask native speakers like kids ask their parents. These definitions will not be the easiest to comprehend, but you will grasp how native speakers sense them. After some time of observing and trying to repeat after them, even if you fail, instead of sounding natural, it will become such.
Own your mistakes
Probably everyone who has ever learned a foreign language will agree that mistakes are the most paralyzing thing when encountering a native speaker. If you are reading this, you are familiar with the constant overthinking as soon as you realize you made one or fear they will ask about your origins because something feels off. Both probably make you freeze and pledge to refrain from ever opening your mouth again. Many teachers will do their best to calm their students by saying that it’s part of the learning process and that one day your speech will no longer be flawed because practice makes the master. And you probably nourish yourself with these promises, waiting impatiently for the day when they magically disappear. And what if your mistakes were something you could turn into social profit?
In terms of learning languages, the die-hard habit is calquing, which means borrowing a word or phrase from your mother tongue and translating it literally into another language. They are often understood and make perfect sense but feel unfamiliar to native speakers. We are used to stressing over how they sound and forget about the meaning they bear. I only realized that after I started translating on purpose idioms and expressions from other languages to French. Surprisingly, my friends were genuinely curious about the perspective of a different culture encrypted inside. Sometimes they even pick up these phrases because they express some things better than those existing in French. Still, these are not the only mistakes you can turn into your strength with a little bit of confidence. Sometimes when you mispronounce or misunderstand what native speakers say, the outcome can become an amusing anecdote and a perfect icebreaker. As long as you handle it with assurance without any shame, contrary to what you might be afraid of, people will think you’re funny and intriguing, not awkward.
Live the challenge
It’s old advice to read, watch TV, and listen to the radio or podcasts in the language you are learning. Many also suggest switching the language of your phone or computer and labeling furniture. It’s all helpful but won’t replace the challenge coming from real life. Unfortunately, classrooms only try to recreate everyday situations to practice the language, but they are far from what one might expect. Living in France taught me no matter how many shop or pharmacy scenes and sample chitchats with fictional neighbors and friends. The language taught in class is usually more standardized to be very neutral, and only special complementary courses teach slang. Language purists can hate it as much as they want, but people don’t speak Molière’s French on a daily basis. As a matter of fact, it’s hard, if not impossible, to mingle with native speakers if one isn’t acquainted with the language they use the most frequently. But even the best course is merely a starting point and can’t substitute clashing with native speakers, which means a constant challenge.
Nevertheless, we feel reluctant about things we must do. Unless you are passionate about linguistics, contact with the language you want to learn can evolve into another mundane task. But challenges are never boring, and day-to-day life regularly offers plenty of them. Keeping your brain entertained and spiked with dopamine by integrating a foreign language with your daily routine intensifies motivation. Stop waiting until you feel good enough about your language level to apply for a job that requires it or talk to a group of foreigners. Throw yourself in at the deep end and figure everything out later. Use it as if you were a native speaker so that language becomes a means to achieve a goal instead of being one. Not only will it help you become the polyglot you want to be, but it will also boost your confidence.
Even if living abroad, it takes time to practice in everyday life. In France, expats struggle to make French friends, sometimes for years. The effort to find some usually requires uncomfortable actions, such as going to events where one doesn’t know anyone, using dating apps, talking to strangers in bars or concerts, and repeatedly looking for after-work apéros. Many of these attempts fail and bring a deep feeling of disappointment and resignation. It’s even worse if you don’t live among native speakers of the language you are learning because it costs more energy to be able to use it. It’s not easy to start, but once you muster the courage to immerse yourself in the language you want to improve, nothing will be more rewarding.
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