Why, after 10 years of learning English, am I still 'mute'?
Do you ever find yourself in this predicament: you've memorised a huge vocabulary, you know all the grammar rules inside out, but the moment you need to speak, your mind just goes completely blank?
We often think that learning a language is like constructing a building: as long as you have enough bricks (words) and blueprints (grammar), you'll eventually construct a magnificent skyscraper. But the reality is, many people are left standing on an empty plot, bewildered, despite clutching a warehouse full of building materials.
So, where does the problem lie?
Today, I want to share a more apt analogy with you: learning a language is actually more like learning to swim.
You'll Never Learn to Swim on Dry Land
Imagine you want to learn to swim. You buy every book 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 eloquently to others.
But if I were to ask you, "Can you swim now?"
The answer, of course, is "No". Because you've never actually got in the water.
Language learning is no different. Many of us are 'giants in theory, but dwarfs in practice'. We're afraid of making mistakes, of imperfect pronunciation, of using the wrong words, of being laughed at. This fear is just like standing by the swimming pool, terrified of being submerged.
But the truth is: you'll never learn to swim without getting in the water. And you'll never learn to speak without opening your mouth.
'Excellent' language learners realised this long ago. It's not that they're smarter than us; they simply grasped the secret to 'swimming' sooner.
The Three 'Mindsets' of Master Swimmers
1. Jump In First, Then Worry About Your Form (Be a Willing Guesser)
No one masters perfect form the first time they get in the water. Everyone starts by flailing, struggling, and swallowing a few mouthfuls.
The first step for a language master is to 'dare to guess'. When they want to express an idea but don't know the exact word, they don't get stuck and stay silent. They'll try using a word with a similar pronunciation, or 'create' a word using English logic, perhaps even adding gestures and expressions.
And what's the result? Often, the other person actually understands! Even if they guess wrong, at most they'll just laugh it off, and they can rephrase it. What's the big deal?
Remember: making mistakes isn't an obstacle to learning; it is learning itself. Daring to 'take a wild guess' is the first step to jumping from dry land 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 so you can save yourself in an emergency?
Similarly, why do you want to learn a foreign language?
If your only goal is to 'pass an exam' or 'finish memorising this vocabulary book', then you're like someone aimlessly floating in a pool, easily becoming tired and bored.
But if your goals are:
- To communicate effortlessly with that foreign blogger you really admire.
- To understand live interviews with your favourite sports team.
- To travel alone to a foreign country and make friends with locals.
These concrete, vivid goals are the 'other side' you want to swim to. They will provide you with a continuous stream of motivation, making you willing to actively communicate, understand, and express yourself. When you have a strong desire to communicate, those so-called 'obstacles' and 'fears' will seem trivial.
3. Feel the Flow of the Water, Don't Just Rote Memorise the Rules (Attend to Form & Practice)
A true swimmer doesn't recite 'arms must stroke at 120 degrees' in their head; they feel the resistance in the water, adjust their posture, and let their body become one with the current.
Language learning is the same. Instead of rote memorising rules like 'this tense must be followed by a past participle', it's better to experience it through use.
When you communicate with others, you'll subconsciously imitate their way of speaking, paying attention to their word choice and sentence structures. You'll discover that some expressions simply sound more 'authentic', more 'natural'. This 'perceive-imitate-adjust' process is the most effective way to learn grammar.
This is what's known as 'language intuition' or 'language sense'. It doesn't appear out of thin air; rather, your body remembers it through repeated 'splashing around' and 'practise'.
Find a Safe 'Shallow End' to Start Practising
By now, you might be thinking, 'I understand all the principles, but I'm still scared! Where can I practise?'
This is just like a beginner swimmer who needs a safe 'shallow end' – where the water isn't deep, and there's a lifeguard nearby – allowing them to practise with peace of mind.
In the past, finding such a linguistic 'shallow end' was difficult. But today, technology has given us the best gift.
For example, tools like Intent are just like your personal linguistic 'shallow end'. This is a chat app with built-in AI translation, allowing you to easily communicate with native speakers worldwide. When you're unsure how to say something, the AI can instantly help you, just like a patient coach guiding you. You don't have to worry about making mistakes annoying the other person, because communication remains consistently smooth.
Here, you can boldly 'guess', freely 'splash around', and safely build your confidence and language intuition.
Stop standing on the shore, envying those who are swimming freely in the water.
The secret to learning a language has never been about finding a thicker grammar book; it's about changing your mindset – from being a 'learner' to becoming a 'user'.
From today, forget those rules and exams that make you anxious. Find the 'other side' you want to reach, then bravely jump into the water. You'll be amazed to discover that 'swimming' isn't as hard as you thought, and it's endlessly fun.