Don't Let These Excuses Stop You From Learning English
- “I want to become fluent in English, but I’m just not good at it.” 😢
- “I’ve tried learning English before and failed. I’ll never be fluent!” 😢😢
- “I just don’t like learning languages. Why try at all?” 😢😢😢
If you’re learning a language or know people who are, you’ve probably said or heard the sentences above.
However, none of these are actually based on research. They’re just excuses to not learn a language. Let’s delve into why.
1. But I tried to learn a language before and failed.
Unfortunately, it’s very common for people to think that they failed to learn a language because they don’t have a “gift” for languages.
However, the real causes were probably much simpler:
- A lack of motivation.
- Being too busy.
- The wrong method.
For example, most of us study a foreign language in school. But you most likely took the class because it was required, not because you liked the subject or had any reason to use it. This is a lack of motivation.
Some of us take language classes after work. If work gets busy, it gets hard for us to go to those classes or make time to study. In this case, it’s not that we failed to learn the language; life simply got in the way.
And if your classes taught you grammar and vocabulary but didn’t give you much time to practice speaking, then you can’t expect to become fluent. This is an example of the wrong method being used.
With the right motivation and method though, improvement won’t be a problem!
2. But I’m not good at learning languages.
It’s true that some people are better at learning languages than others. But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible for you or anyone else to improve.
Most of us aren’t award-winning mathematicians, but we can do basic math. Most of us also can’t make Michelin-quality food, but we can probably learn to make pasta.
Similarly, we won’t all be able to write best-selling books in another language, but we can all become good enough to have a conversation, order food, or whatever it is that we want to do with the language.
So instead of thinking about fluency in a foreign language as some sort of talent, think of it as a skill. Like any skill, the more you practice, the better you become. This means that anyone who is willing to practice regularly can achieve the level of fluency they desire.
Lots of students start out believing that they have no talent for learning languages, but through daily practice with our tutors they gain confidence and become fluent in English.
3. But I don’t love languages.
It’s true that if you are interested in languages you’ll have more fun learning them and probably improve more quickly. But loving a language is only one piece of the puzzle.
In fact, a lot of people who don’t love languages still succeed in learning them. Just ask anyone who has had to move to a different part of the world.
“But,” you may argue, “that’s because they need to learn the language to survive! I don’t have that kind of motivation.” That may be true, and that’s why it can be very useful to find out what your motivations are.
Instead of looking for reasons to love the language you’re learning, think of what you want to do with it:
- Do you want to get a promotion or a better job?
- Do you want to study abroad?
- Do you want to make friends with people from other countries?
Try to imagine yourself doing these things. Even if you don't fall in love with the language you’re learning, you’ll definitely love the results of mastering it.
No More “Buts”!
Nothing is stopping you from learning English.
At Engoo, we know this from experience. Through our 25-minute one-on-one online lessons, hundreds of thousands of students have achieved what they never thought possible: fluency in English.
If you’re still not convinced, here’s a story from one of our students: Mutsumi, a film director from Japan.
Before studying with our tutors, Mutsumi had all the doubts you have. For example, when we asked her if she liked English, she replied, “I hated it haha. It was my worst subject in high school.”
And she definitely had some negative experiences learning English that led her to think that she wasn’t very good at it:
"When I was in high school, English was my worst subject. In middle school, it wasn't that bad, but by high school, the grammar and vocabulary got complicated and there were so many more things I needed to memorize that I felt overwhelmed…. I hated English as a subject and English with grades."
However, when she got a job and started needing to communicate with foreign directors, she realized that she wanted to say more in English than “yes,” “no,” and “OK.”
Since then, Mutsumi has taken one-to-one online lessons with our tutors for about a year. When she last spoke with us, she proudly explained that she can now introduce her films at international film festivals and discuss films with directors from other countries.
So if you’re still wondering whether you’ll ever speak fluent English, the answer is “yes!” Just give it a try. Besides, everyone gets a free trial lesson with Engoo, so you have nothing to lose!
