The path to fluency
Everyone’s journey to fluency is different, and it’s not always easy. We don’t just start at point A and go straight to point B, C, D, and so on. Sometimes we might start at point A, then move to B and not do anything for years. Later, we might have to go back to A again and start over, like I did with learning French. Or, we might quickly reach point F, but then get ‘stuck’ there for a long time, unable to move forward. If we think of Z as being perfect fluency, we might never reach it. And that’s okay. Reaching Z doesn’t have to be our goal. Sometimes, even after reaching a certain point, like H or M, we might need to go back and review what we missed earlier, like at points C or G.
The idea of a clear path is just a metaphor. This ‘stop-start’ way of learning is completely normal and shouldn’t be something to worry about or feel embarrassed about. Not everyone is a language learning genius who picks up languages easily. People who can speak many languages are amazing, but most of us need to work harder to become fluent. There are many people online who claim you can learn a language in just six weeks. They say you’ll be fluent in no time, just like they were. It sounds great, right? But it’s not true. It’s like a movie where a normal person suddenly finds he has hidden powers and becomes a superhero, beating up all the bad guys.
"Not everyone is a language learning genius."
This idea is just a fantasy, of course. But the same can usually be said for speed learning methods. You might try some fast language-learning methods. If they work for you, that’s great! But often, these methods don’t help more than the ‘regular’ ones. Then you might feel bad, like you’re the only one who can’t learn languages, and you have spent money on something that didn’t work. That’s frustrating.
But don’t be too hard on yourself. You’re not alone. Most language learners I’ve met have worked really hard to improve their skills. Especially where I live in Asia, many people put in a lot of effort. And everyone learns differently. So, no single method works for everyone. Experts in language learning know this. If you ask them, they’ll tell you that. Sadly, the people who promise easy, quick results usually get the most attention online, but they don’t always have the best advice.
Since no one method works for everyone, you need to find what works best for you. You might get ideas from teachers and other learners, but in the end, only you will know what works for you. Once you find a method that helps, stick with it. You might need to try new things from time to time, but keep going. Don’t feel pressured to reach a certain level of fluency quickly—just keep learning at your own pace. There will be times when you get stuck or feel like you’re not making progress. That’s normal. Take a break, enjoy the learning process, and soon you’ll get back on track towards your goal.
Enjoy the journey!
