Why, After 10 Years of English, Am I Still 'Tongue-Tied'?
Have you ever felt this way: you've memorised a heap of vocabulary, know all the grammar rules inside out, but the moment you need to open your mouth, your mind just goes completely blank?
We often think learning a language is like building a house: as long as you have enough bricks (vocabulary) and blueprints (grammar), you'll eventually construct a magnificent building. But the reality is, many people are sitting on a warehouse full of building materials, yet they're still standing on an empty plot, completely at a loss.
So, what's the problem?
Today, I want to share a more fitting analogy with you: learning a language is actually more like learning to swim.
You Can Never Learn to Swim on Dry Land
Imagine you want to learn to swim. You buy all the books on swimming techniques, from freestyle to butterfly, you study water buoyancy, the angle of arm strokes, the frequency of leg kicks... you can even explain it all perfectly to others.
But if I ask you, "So, can you swim now?"
The answer, of course, is "No." Because you've never actually gotten in the water.
Language learning is the same. Many of us are 'giants in theory, but dwarfs in action.' We're scared of making mistakes, of having an imperfect accent, of using the wrong word, of being laughed at. This fear is like standing at the edge of the pool, terrified of being submerged.
But the truth is: If you don't get in the water, you'll never learn to swim. If you don't open your mouth, you'll never learn to speak.
The 'excellent' language learners figured this out ages ago. They're not smarter than us; they just grasped the secret to swimming much earlier.
Three 'Mindsets' of Swimming Aces
1. Jump In First, Worry About Form Later (Be a Willing Guesser)
No one gets into the water for the first time and swims with perfect form. Everyone starts by flailing around, struggling, and swallowing a few mouthfuls of water.
The first step for language aces is to 'dare to guess'. When they want to express something but don't know the exact word, they don't get stuck and stay silent. They'll try a word with a similar sound, or 'invent' a word using English logic, and even add gestures and facial expressions.
And the result? Often, the other person actually understands! Even if they guess wrong, at most there'll be a laugh, and they can just say it another way. What's the big deal?
Remember: Mistakes aren't a barrier to learning; they ARE the learning. Daring to 'take a punt' is your first step to jumping off the shore and into the water.
2. Find the 'Other Side' You Want to Swim To (Find Your Drive to Communicate)
Why do you want to learn to swim? Is it for fun? For health? Or to be able to save yourself in an emergency?
Likewise, why do you want to learn a foreign language?
If your only goal is to 'pass an exam' or 'memorise this vocabulary book,' then you're like someone just aimlessly floating in the pool, easily getting tired and bored.
But what if your goals are:
- To communicate seamlessly with that foreign blogger you really admire.
- To understand the live interviews of your favourite sports team.
- To travel solo to another country and make friends with the locals.
These specific, vivid goals are the 'other side' you want to swim to. They'll give you an endless supply of motivation, making you willing to actively communicate, understand, and express yourself. When you have a strong desire to communicate, all those so-called 'barriers' and 'fears' will seem utterly trivial.
3. Feel the Flow of the Water, Not Just Rote-Learn the Rules (Attend to Form & Practice)
Real swimmers aren't reciting "arms must be at 120 degrees" in their heads; they're feeling the resistance in the water, adjusting their posture, and letting their body become one with the current.
Language learning is the same. Instead of rote-learning "this tense needs to be followed by the past participle of the verb," it's better to feel it as you use it.
When you're chatting with others, you'll subconsciously imitate their expressions, paying attention to their word choices and sentence structures. You'll find that some ways of saying things just sound more 'authentic' and 'natural.' This 'feel-imitate-adjust' process is the most effective way to learn grammar.
This is what we call 'language intuition'; it doesn't just magically appear. It's something your body remembers through repeated 'flailing' and 'practice' sessions.
Find a Safe 'Shallow End' to Start Practising
Reading this, you might be thinking, "I get it, but I'm still scared! Where am I supposed to practise?"
It's like a beginner swimmer needing a safe 'shallow end' – where the water isn't deep and there's a lifeguard nearby – so they can practise with confidence.
In the past, finding such a linguistic 'shallow end' was tough. But today, technology has given us the best gift.
For example, tools like Intent are like your own dedicated language 'shallow end'. It's a chat app with built-in AI translation, so you can easily chat with native speakers from all over the world. When you don't know what to say, the AI can instantly help you, just like a patient coach whispering guidance in your ear. You don't have to worry about making mistakes annoying the other person, because communication will always flow smoothly.
Here, you can confidently 'take a punt,' 'flail away' to your heart's content, and safely build your confidence and language intuition.
Stop standing on the shore, envying those who are splashing about freely in the water.
The key to learning a language has never been about finding a thicker grammar book; it's about changing your mindset – from a 'learner' to a 'user'.
From today, forget those rules and exams that cause you anxiety. Find the 'other side' you want to reach, and then, bravely jump into the water. You'll be surprised to discover that 'swimming' isn't that hard after all, and it's loads of fun.