Thomas Brock, our resident travelling English teacher shares his thoughts on his own language-learning journey.
Read on to hear what Thomas has to say about dealing with the shame of not trying hard and feelings of failure when it comes to learning a language.
Vocabulary List
- Get something off your chest
- to tell someone about something that has been worrying you or making you feel guilty for a long time
- Streak
- something that happens or is done over a period of time without a break
- Excuse
- a reason that you give to explain why you did something wrong
- Lazy
- not willing to work or use any effort
- Convenience
- the fact that something is suitable for your purposes and causes no difficulty and makes life more comfortable
- Shame
- an uncomfortable feeling of guilt or of being ashamed because of your own or someone else’s bad behaviour
- Embarrassment
- the feeling of being embarrassed, or something that makes you feel embarrassed
- Half-hearted
- showing no enthusiasm or interest
- Admit
- to agree that something is true, especially unwillingly
- Commitment
- a promise or firm decision to do something
- Slump
- a period when someone is tired and does not have much energy
- Ashamed
- feeling guilty or embarrassed about something you have done or about a quality in your character
- feeling ashamed or shy
- a short stay in a place that you make while you are on a longer journey to somewhere else
I’m not a very good learner
Hello again everyone,
This week I wanted I wanted to get something off my chest: I am a bad language learner.
There, I said it. Happy?
Let me explain.
Almost all of my life I have been learning at least one language. When I was 8 years old my family moved to France and I had to learn French. Ever since then, I have been learning a language. First, it was French, of course, then Spanish, then Latin, and then Ancient Greek.
After I finished university and spent some time teaching Latin (during which time I was still frantically learning Latin) I eventually ended my 15-year streak of regular language learning and over time, I have really slowed down.
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However, since I met my partner I have once again started a new language.
What I want everyone to know is that I am pretty bad at most of the things that I recommend to my students in order to help them learn English. I don’t practice every day. I don’t keep a notebook, I haven’t spent time to master the basics, and I don’t currently have a teacher.
Well, for most of these points I feel like I have an excuse, but to be honest, maybe I’m just lazy, or perhaps I’ve just let life get in the way and have been riding on the convenience that my partner speaks very good English.
So why am I writing all this now?
Overcoming the shame
I want to share my shame and embarrassment over my half-hearted language-learning efforts because I know that many English learners will have similar feelings. A number of my students have admitted to a lack of practice or struggling to find the time or motivation to learn.
I get it, and I forgive you. Even if I don’t forgive myself.
Today I’m making a commitment to myself to restart my language learning journey. I know there will be times in the future when I hit a slump and feel ashamed, but it doesn’t matter. All that does matter is that we get up and keep trying.
So to all those English learners who feel ashamed or embarrassed, I get it, but let’s move on together.
That’s it for this week.
Thomas
Do you ever feel shame for not practising?
Are you ready to start learning English again after a break?
What obstacles get in the way of your language learning?
