Studied English for 10 Years But Still Can't Speak? You've Been Learning to Swim on Dry Land

Have you ever had one of those utterly frustrating moments where you've worn out your vocabulary books, mastered grammar rules, watched hundreds of American TV series, but the moment you try to speak English, your mind just goes blank?

We often assume that people who speak English well are either naturally gifted or outgoing. But what if I told you it has little to do with talent or personality?

The truth is: learning English is just like learning to swim.

You can study all the swimming theories inside out, from the buoyancy of water to the angle of your arm stroke; you can know it all perfectly. But as long as you don't jump into the water, you'll forever remain a 'swimming theorist', not someone who can actually swim.

Most of us learn English by practising swimming on dry land. We work hard, we're diligent, but we just don't get into the water.

Stop Being a 'Swimming Theorist', Jump In!

Think about those fluent English speakers around you. They aren't 'smarter'; they've simply been 'immersed' for longer, and started earlier:

• They work and live in environments where they have to speak English.
• They have foreign friends and interact 'in the water' every day.
• They aren't afraid of choking on water; they dare to flail and make mistakes.

See, the key isn't 'personality' but 'environment'. It's hard to change your personality, but we can create an environment to 'get in the water' right now.

Step One: Find Your 'Other Side' (A Clear Goal)

Why do you want to learn to swim? Is it for fun, or to swim to the other side to meet someone important?

If it's just for fun, you might splash around a bit and then get out. But if there's a compelling reason to get to the other side – such as a desirable job opportunity, a culture you want to understand deeply, or a friend you want to connect with – you'll stop at nothing, struggling forward with all your might.

This 'must-go' reason is your strongest motivation. It will make you actively analyse: How far am I from the other side? What kind of 'stroke' do I need? How should I manage my energy?

Action: Stop saying, "I want to learn English well." Turn it into a specific goal: "I want to be able to have a 10-minute everyday conversation with foreign clients in three months," or "I want to be able to order food and ask for directions by myself when travelling abroad."

Step Two: Your Goal Is 'Not Drowning', Not an Olympic Gold Medal (Treat English as a Tool)

What's the goal for someone learning to swim for the first time? Is it to swim a perfect butterfly stroke? No, it's to ensure you don't sink, that you can breathe, and that you can move forward.

English is the same. It's primarily a tool for communication, not a science you need to score 100% in. You don't need to understand every grammatical detail, just as when we speak Chinese, we might not be able to explain the precise usage of 'de' (的, 地, 得), but it doesn't stop us from communicating.

Stop worrying about, "Is my pronunciation standard?" or "Is this sentence grammatically perfect?" As long as the other person can understand your meaning, you're successful. You've 'swum' across!

Remember: If there's a topic you can't even discuss in your native language, don't expect to talk about it fluently in English. Communication ability is more important than perfect grammar.

Step Three: Don't Be Afraid to Choke on Water; It's a Necessary Step (Embrace Mistakes)

No one is born knowing how to swim. Everyone starts by choking on their first mouthful of water.

Making mistakes in front of others can indeed be embarrassing, but these are the moments when you make the fastest progress. Every time you choke on water, you instinctively adjust your breathing and posture. Every time you say something wrong, it's an opportunity to remember the correct usage.

Fluent English speakers don't not make mistakes; they've simply made more mistakes than you've had practice sessions. They've long grown used to the feeling of 'choking on water' and know that as long as they keep splashing around, they'll always resurface.

How to 'Get In the Water'? Start by Creating Your Own 'Swimming Pool'

Alright, you understand the principles, but how do you 'get in the water'?

1. Switch Your Life to 'English Mode'

This isn't about 'finding time to study English'; it's about 'living in English'.

• Change your phone and computer system language to English.
• Listen to your favourite English songs, but this time, try to look up what the lyrics mean.
• Watch your favourite American TV series, but try changing the subtitles to English, or even turning them off.
• Follow foreign bloggers in your areas of interest, whether it's fitness, beauty, or gaming.

The key is to do the things you already love, but in English. Let English no longer be a 'learning task', but 'a part of life'.

2. Start Splashing Around in the 'Shallow End'

No one expects you to challenge the deep end on your first day. Start small and build confidence.

• This week's goal: Order a coffee in English.
• Next week's goal: Comment on your favourite blogger's social media in English.
• The week after: Find a language partner for a simple 5-minute conversation.

Speaking of finding a language partner, this might be the most effective yet most daunting step. What if you're worried about speaking poorly, feeling awkward, or the other person losing patience?

This is where a tool like Intent can be incredibly helpful. It's like your personal 'swimming coach' and 'lifebuoy'. You can find language partners from all over the world who want to learn Chinese; everyone is a learner, so the mindset is more understanding. The best part is its built-in AI real-time translation. When you get stuck and can't speak, the translation feature acts like a lifebuoy, instantly giving you a hand, allowing you to confidently 'swim' on, without retreating to the dry land because of one awkward moment.

On Intent, you can confidently start in the 'shallow end', slowly build confidence, until one day, you find you can effortlessly swim to the 'deep end'.

Stop standing on the shore, envying those swimming freely in the water.

The best time to learn English is always now. Forget those dull rules and the demand for perfection. Like a child learning to swim, jump in, play around, splash about.

You'll soon discover that 'speaking English' really isn't that difficult after all.