Seven Questions Any Language Learner Needs To Answer

Before taking on a new language learning project, these questions will help you focus on a realistic, positive way to bring language into your life and stay motivated so you can become an expert speaker.

Who are the meaningful people in your life?

People in your life are relevant to your results in language learning, because they will influence your thoughts through conversation and behaviour.

Beyond that, it's also important to bear in mind who you are dedicating time and attention to, and how much time and attention you'd want to dedicate to other people.

What's been your contact with other languages so far?

Most people who want to learn a language as an adult have actually learnt a language in their life before. This means you're bringing some experience which can contribute to your success. But it can also mean baggage in terms of past negative experiences.

Have you ever taught someone something?

Every learning or teaching experience you've had in the past has helped you to prepare for learning a language right now. Consider what you did before that worked, and how you felt when you were able to share your knowledge.

What does your week look like?

Even before you start off with your new project, make yourself aware of how much time you have available.

Beware: If you have a lot of things on your plate, this question may make you nervous and doubtful. You do not need to dedicate many hours every single day to learning a language. You can be successful in many ways, but accept that you will be slower.

The purpose of examining your available time is to help you think about what is realistic. If you have a full-time job, coach the local sports team, and spend 2 hours in church every Sunday, you may not currently allow enough time to get fluent in 6 months. If you tried, you'd likely burn out or feel like a failure.

Is it possible to achieve a high language level in few months? Yes. But is it possible unless you put in 20+ hours every week? Nah. So instead, work with who you are and what you've got, and look forward to the progress you will make.

Who can help you learn a language?

Pull in your support team as early as possible! If you have friends who speak different languages, work in the field of languages, or perhaps kids who are studying a language in school, this can make all the difference.

Ask yourself "Who benefits when I learn this language?".

Beyond your circle of IRL friends, consider also where on social media you can build your language circle. If you watch YouTube or spend a few hours a week on Instagram, then make sure you learn with social media. Follow people who post in your target language, get involved by posting something yourself, and share your goals with communities like #studygram on Instagram or the Fluent Language Learners group over on Facebook.

Click Here for 17 Tips for Language Learning on Social Media.

Is there anything that you think might be a stumbling block?

If you talk to an insurance person, they'll tell you that insurance is all about knowing risks. And while I cannot sell you an insurance for failed fluency, I do recommend that you consider what's risky for your own success.

Here are a few common language learning threats:

• You may commit a lot of time but find it hard to maintain that energy.
• You may be scared of practicing your language because you don't want to look foolish.
• If you're motivated by one life event like a trip to the target country, your motivation could fade away after you return home.
• You may overestimate how fast you can learn, and feel demotivated when you progress is slower than expected.
• You may tell yourself "I can't learn languages" and self-sabotage yourself right from the start.

A language coach will help you handle each one of those risks, and many more. It's worth talking to them about it!

Learn more about language coaching

What conditions exist for making you a success?

Imagine you are NOT going to move to the country tomorrow and you won't win the lottery either. How could you still make language learning a success?

Making The Plan

Take the questions listed above to a friend, a supportive group, or book a few language coaching sessions. The coach will help you

• Think positively and discover your strengths.
• Look for opportunities to build a language learning habit so you can speak a language automatically without having to study so much.
• Value the advantages that you have right now, and show you how to use them to stay motivated for many years.

If you want a little more support on how to improve your routine in practical steps after these questions, check out the Language Habit Toolkit. It is a collection of guidance notes and worksheets that will help you set goals and become more productive as you learn languages. The toolkit is designed to be your little self-guided coach in a box.

What About You?

How would you answer the questions I listed above? Who helps you learn languages?

Share in the comments below - I'm excited to hear from you.

A Language Learner's Guide to Mindset, Mantras & Emotions

When was the last time you felt discouraged by a language learning setback?

Discouragement and insecurity get the best of everyone from time to time, but the worst part is that we’re afraid to admit it. Even in a community of language learners, we have a bad habit of hiding in fear during our setbacks and comparing ourselves to those who are experiencing success.

Think back to a time you doubted yourself. Did you ever wonder:

• Am I learning the right way?

• Why am I not making more progress?

• Why does it seem like everyone else is having an easier time progressing?

• How can I stop making so many mistakes?

• Will I ever be able to learn this language?

If so, you’re not the only one to feel trapped in this sort of negative mindset. It’s a part of life.

What really matters is the steps you take to keep moving forward.

On The Podcast

Listen to this podcast with me and Lindsay Williams to explore more about creating a mindset that will help you learn another language:

What is a Mindset?

Maybe you’ve heard about mindsets before, but what does it all mean?

Like a narrative, a mindset is the mental filter you add to everything that happens in your life. It colours the way you look at the world. For example, when you’re in love, people say you have rose-tinted glasses. You’re so happy and full of endorphins that it doesn’t even matter if someone cuts you off in traffic.

But when you’re having a bad experience in the morning, it can also make you more aware of the next sub-ideal thing. Then, before you know it, you’re having a bad day.

This is a form of priming, which happens when your response to something is shaped by a previous influence. It can affect multiple aspects of our lives including our language learning efforts.

That means, when you find yourself in a negative mindset, it can change the way you view your language learning progress.

Having Negative or Limiting Thoughts?

Now that you’re aware of those pesky negative mindsets, it’s time to change them.

Of course, that’s easier said than done.

One of the first questions you might want to ask yourself is whether you’re being held back by a fixed mindset.

What does that mean?

In learning and education, there is a theory that the presence of either a fixed mindset or a growth mindset can change the way children process difficult tasks and deal with failure. The Growth Mindset theory has been researched by psychologists Carol Dweck and her team.

In short, a fixed mindset is one that believes you cannot change. It’s the idea that insists that you aren’t capable or intelligent enough to conquer the difficulties you face.

Meanwhile, a growth mindset is the idea that you can develop your intelligence to improve and that your continued efforts will lead to success.

Now, think about your own doubts. Are they a part of a fixed mindset that’s keeping you from feeling like you have the ability to succeed?

Do You Believe Language Learning is Difficult?

If you’ve ever thought...

• "__ is a hard language. I don’t think I can do it."

• "Am I studying enough? Is my method effective? What is my learning style and what is everyone else doing?"

• "I’m just not at the level I should be. I’m just not doing well enough and I keep trying but I cannot get the concepts right. Everyone else is progressing more quickly."

• "I’m too old and forgetful now, my brain isn’t what it used to be."

• "I’m never going to get to the point where I can effortlessly understand. It’s never going to be easy."

..what you might really be saying to yourself is this:

"I’m not smart enough."

"Can I trust myself?"

"I can’t get there."

"I’m not allowed to have fun. Learning this is suffering."

Obstacles can be very real. Depending on your access, opportunity, disability, education, etc., you might not be progressing as quickly as someone else. You might not know about a different method that would suit you a bit better or have the ability to use other resources.

However, the theory behind adopting a growth mindset is not an assumption that your thoughts can magically make everything better. Instead, it’s a way to improve your own self-image and begin recognising your worth and celebrating the skills, talents, resourcefulness, and grit that you do have.

By consciously changing these negative thought patterns, you acknowledge that you are always capable of becoming the best version of yourself and that you’re not the only one.

How to Challenge Your Negative Ideas

Working against a negative mindset, is its own challenge. So, where should you start?

Remember that if you find yourself stuck in a negative, fixed mindset, the only way to start making progress again is to create a new perspective for yourself. Your first step is to promote a growth mindset within yourself by remembering that intelligence is not a fixed, limited capacity that cannot be changed.

In other words, it’s impossible to not be smart enough because you can always learn and improve.

For example, in a school setting, educators and parents are encouraged to use open language that highlights effort and removes the idea of natural talent. This way, children are less likely to adopt a fixed mindset about their abilities and intelligence.

You can use a similar strategy for our own language learning efforts with the help of mantras.

Let’s Make Some Mantras!

If you’ve ever tried meditating, you might already know about mantras. Whether in the form of a word, a phrase, or simply a sound, mantras help us focus our thoughts. They can help change our perception.

This makes them valuable for turning our negative, fixed thoughts into ones that can help us progress.

Mantras can promote overall self-esteem to boost confidence:

• I approve of myself and feel great about myself.

• My high self-esteem enables me to respect others and beget respect in turn.

• I accept others as they are and they in turn accept me as I am.

• It matters little what others say. What matters is how I react and what I believe.

• I have high self-esteem as I respect myself.

• I am solution-minded. Any problem that comes up in life is solvable.

They can also speak directly to your language learning difficulties:

• I am a smart and capable language learner.

• I grow with every word I say in my new language.

• I am soaking up new knowledge like a sponge.

• If you believe you’re going to fail, you are probably going to fail.

• If you believe you’re going to succeed, you can.

These are just a few examples of mantras you can begin to use. You can also create more personalized mantras by:

• Adding the word "yet" to a negative sentence. I’m not prepared to speak yet.

• Thinking of what you are worried about or afraid of and imagining yourself overcoming that.

  • What is that situation like? How do you feel? How do you move and sound when you’re getting there? Put that feeling into a sentence that you can say to yourself again and again.

Remember that there are no rules for what your mantra has to sound like. Some people like a long mantra while others prefer a single line. You can even search online to find something that speaks to you.

Affirm Your Progress

There will always be setbacks and challenges. Just as making mistakes helps you learn a language, these difficulties and mental blocks can help you grow.

No matter what you face during your language learning journey, tell yourself that:

• Yes, you do get to decide that you are good at this. It’s not an outrage. No one will check.

• You are working hard enough for the results you are getting. Give yourself some credit and allow yourself to play with and enjoy your new language.

Then, the next time you hit a roadblock, you can ask yourself, "What can I do to get around this?"

Because you will get around it.

Need a bit of help?

Keep some positive affirmation cards handy for those days when you don’t feel very motivated. You can get a free set of language learning specific affirmations here.

How to Get The Perfect Accent

Learning a language is a long journey, and even after many years of dedication it can still feel like you're far from arriving.

One of the milestones we hope to hit along the way is to start creating a 'perfect accent' in another language, so we can fit in well. But how is that done? Hear all about it on this episode of the Fluent Show.

After I shared my own story of learning English to a very high level on an episode of the Fluent Show’s episode 96, listener William sent me a very interesting question.

It’s about a classic problem when you’re learning a language: how do you sound good? How can you fit in with your accent?

Here's what he wrote in his question:

I'm learning English (and French) in Canada, I'm very happy with my progress so far. I'm a self-touch learner and I spend most of my time for listening and reading. For about 2 years learning from scratch, now I'm able to read books I love and listen to any audio source without much struggles. But still, I feel the "isolation" since I have not have a great intonation and accent yet. As you said that it could have affects on learner's self-confidence. So I hope you could share some thoughts on the topic in a future episode, how you do it and what is the right mindset to acquire the native accent.

William is so smart because he recognised the core feeling that’s the problem here. It’s not about being understood anymore or about having access to conversations, now it’s about blending in and feeling at ease, personally. I have a lot of empathy for that desire, because even after 15 years in the UK I still can’t seem to blend in like a local. And every now and then it bothers me, because it directs the conversation to me, or something about me, or something I don’t want to focus on at that moment. So even after all this time...people still pick up that I’m from somewhere else, and there are certain sounds that I will “Germanize”, especially when I’m very tired.

Tips For Improving Your Accent

Working on your accent in another language is best reserved for those levels where you are communicating comfortably. It's not the same as studying the pronunciation rules of a language, which comes at the start and will help you understand words and rhythm. The accent you want to acquire is all about blending in with the people you hear and speak to on a regular basis, so that you can feel like you belong with that group.

There are specific exercises and accent work activities that you can do, and most of them are focused on listening intently and echoing what you here.

Here are four principles that will help you as you work on improving your accent:

1. Listen & echo. Fine-tuning your accent starts with hearing many details of the accent you want to acquire, so listen intently and identify specific sounds that you want to get.

2. Tinker. Focus on individual expressions instead of trying to fix it all at once. It can sound inauthentic when you try to create a full "accent profile" for yourself, so instead think of it like tiny iterations of your existing language.

3. Harmonize. Continue to listen to others even while you are producing language, and try to monitor your speech as you talk.

4. Look and feel. Consider mouth shapes, learn the IPA if you wish, but most importantly observe and feel where in the mouth different expressions are formed. When you echo what you hear, think about how it feels in your mouth.

Finally, you can also find a language coach who specialises in accent work and who will help you improve through recorded speech, individual feedback and specialised challenges.

Online Courses For Getting a Great Accent

My recommendation for German learners is my Accent & Pronunciation Masterclass Course. This course is designed for foreign natives who want to sound authentic and understand German words with ease. The course is great because it

• Works with mouth shapes
• Focuses on sounds and how they’re formed
• Provides consistent rules that help you make sense of German
• Considers you as an English speaker - knows what you tend to get wrong

Check out the German Pronunciation & Accent Masterclass

For English learners, these two courses from Elena Mutonono will be a great resource and cover the essential topics you need to know about, like connected speech.

And in French, I have a wonderful recommendation from my muse française, Géraldine Lepere, who has a great Vocabulary and Pronunciation Program.

3 Mindset Tips for Accent Work

Finally, I've got a few important notes regarding the mindset to adopt when you are working on improving your foreign accent.

There is no such thing as perfect when it comes to learning a foreign language or working on a foreign accent. Some people do work on improving how good they sound and how well they fit in. But bear in mind that striving for perfection would be like aiming for a moving target - impossible to hit and impossible to maintain!

Consider these three mindset tips to ensure that you're working on your accent without expecting unreasonable things from yourself:

1. Don’t compare up, i.e. don't compare yourself to better speakers than yourself. Everyone's voice and accent are absolutely unique.

2. Don’t obsess over fixing everything at once - instead remember that the trick is to tinker and iterate your improvements.

3. Pay attention to how other people say things. If you do hear something that sounds great in your target language, echo it and use it for yourself. There's no 'stealing' in accents.

Do You Feel Great About Accent?

Have you tried to lose your foreign accent in a target language? How did it go? Share your story in the comments, and don't forget you can send podcast feedback to kerstin@fluentlanguage.co.uk or follow the show on Twitter.

If you have a second, leave us a podcast review on iTunes or in the Podcasts app!

The Book That Will Change How You See Language Learning (+ Clever Notes & Action Plan FREE)

One of the most common things I hear from language learners is

"what is the best way to do this?" You want to know how to learn a language, in as much detail as possible.

And it's hard to answer that question once and for all, for everyone. People are different, and no one's going to teach you good habits overnight. I know there are plenty of players out there telling you that their way of doing flash cards or listening to native content is the real answer.

But seriously, guys. What it really takes is that you learn to understand your own smart and capable self. That's where a book like Becoming Fluent comes in.

By the way, I've gone ahead and done a little bit of hard work for you guys. You can now enter your details below and download my book notes for Becoming Fluent along with a fab little action plan template so you know what to do next.

What Is Becoming Fluent?

Becoming Fluent is an impressive book in the field of language acquisition. It's written with the scientific background expected from academics. But that doesn't mean that language learners cannot apply it to their lives: Throughout the book, the authors mix explanations and practical tips. The book is written for adult learners who want to conquer another language, and goes into the following topics:

• What do you have to do to make sure you become a successful language learner?
• How can you choose the right target language to study?
• What are the best
• How important is it to know the culture and norms of people who speak your target language every day?
• How can you get better at memorising and remembering more?

Why It's Awesome

There are many language learning books out in the market that tell you all about how wonderful the author's methods are. Most successful polyglot-style books follow this system. The logic is that if following certain steps made the author fluent in another language, then you can do the same by copying the steps.

In Becoming Fluent, I detected none of this. The authors do work from their own experience in languages but never claim to know all the answers. Each chapter is based on a new aspect of language learning and gives a neutral summary of what the science says, followed by practical advice.

I've never used or endorsed the "copy a winner" approach, and I don't think it's quite how things work for language learners. Success in language learning is about more than just playing the game right. The more you learn and discover about yourself, your habits, your preferences and strengths in language learning, the more you will approach a real ability to learn any language quickly.

So for me, Becoming Fluent was an outstanding book about language learning because it doesn't tell you what exactly to do. This one is about empowering yourself to find your own perfect method.

What Wasn't So Great

Becoming Fluent is smart and thorough and scientific, which is a big rarity in language learning. It's great to read such a sensible voice in our field. The book comes at language learning from so many different angles that some great aspects get a little lost.

I would have liked the book's action-focused tips to be highlighted or separated from the main text, making it easier to find exactly how to put new insights into action. As it is, Becoming Fluent does require you to put in a few hours for reading, but this is time well spent.

My Favourite Parts

• All of chapter 2, which addresses the many lies and misleading beliefs that we hold in our heads before we even start learning. If you can only listen to/read one part of the book, this chapter is going to make a massive difference. It's a small window into how your brain trips you up.
• This sentence in Chapter 3:

"The REAL test of how well you speak a language is how easily you communicate when you are using that language, and the pleasure you derive from speaking it."

• The ideas behind common ground and the zone of proximal development, which are all about how you think of how good you are, how good other people are in comparison, and how you can get better step-by-step.
• The focus on learning and speaking a language like an adult, not a kid or teenager. This focus builds great insights, for example the understanding that it's more important to be yourself in another language than to sound "exactly like all the native speakers".
• The image of tutors and helpers as a Sherpa, i.e. Someone who's climbing the mountain with you, showing you the way, teaching you about the process as you're doing it.
• The concept of cognitive overload, which explains exactly why and how and when you get tired.

Overall, I am very happy that I read Becoming Fluent and recommend you check it out too. I ordered my copy from the local library and am very glad that it's in their catalogue now. You can get your own printed copy in the same way, or order it from Amazon (here's the US link and the UK link).

Don’t forget, you can grab my full book notes (9 pages!) by clicking the button below. They include your own action plan template and a checklist of books to check out, so next you can be prepared on your next visit to the library or to Amazon.

Don’t forget to sign up here to get the free notes and action plan.

Five Tips For Beating Embarrassment When Speaking Another Language

We've all been there: You're up for half an hour of speaking practice in your target language, and right after you say hello, you notice the first mistake tumble out. Not good. Now they think you're an idiot, and you've forgotten the word for "bread" and while you're racking your brain that pause becomes longer and your cheeks are glowing red. Time for the ground to open up!

If all that sounds familiar to you, you are not alone. Millions of language learners experience embarrassment when it comes to speaking practice. Especially when you're trying out your language in another country, it's almost impossible to feel prepared.

My personal threshold for embarrassment seems to be pretty high in most social situations, I have also experienced that crippling sense of looking truly foolish.

I won't get into that one time on a Russian airplane where the air hostess shouted incomprehensible things at me, I smiled throughout with lots of "da, da"...and later found out that they had been debating whether I could safely fly considering they thought I was pregnant. The shame!

But fear not, I've got some good advice to share with you today.

If you're ready to start saying no to embarrassment when speaking another language, here are four tips to help you feel better:

1) Prepare Your Speaking Partner

Chances are you are already pushing the boundaries of your comfort zone by speaking in another language. There is no need to add further discomfort to your challenge by talking to someone who is unlikely to support you. Strangers at the ticket counter, crazy air hostesses and even strict teachers are not the right people to choose for conversation practice when you are suffering from social anxiety or embarrassment.

Instead, try and hold on to what makes you feel comfortable right now. It helps to share your worries with your speaking partner before you start having to speak your target language. If it's a tutor, this will prompt them to be more patient and hold back on the corrections. If it's a friend, it can remind them to slow down and let you build your sentences slowly.

This technique of preparing your partner will help both of you feel more at ease, and ready to tackle this challenge together.

2) Focus On Your Breath

When anxious sensations take hold, your body responds by tensing up, raising your heartbeat and even causing you to sweat and blush. That's the last thing you need when you are already worried about the many ways in which you're about to lose face.

Instead of freaking out about all the words you remember or forget, the best course of action is a simple calming exercise.

Focus on something that is real and constant, for example your own breath. Breathe in slowly for 4 seconds, retain your breath for 2 seconds if you can, and enjoy a long and restorative out breath for 8 seconds. Breathing exercises may not feel like the right tool for a foreign language panic, but you'll be surprised at how much language skill returns once that mental stormcloud is allowed to pass.

For more tips and techniques that help with overcoming stress and anxiety, try the SAM app on your smartphone. It's a little toolkit of instant self-help.

3) Build Up Your Filler Vocabulary

Filler sentences are a wonderful tool when you are getting ready for speaking practice. They're usually uncomplicated, short, easy to remember and very effective. Think of filler sentences as the extra cushioning that is built into conversations so each speaker gets some time to relax. In English, these are lines like "hold on", "let me think for a second" or "let me think".

As a little treat for the German learners among you, I've collected a bunch of fillers and stock sentences in the "Make Your German Sound Amazing" booklet, which you can download for free.

But what should you do if you haven't understood half of what your speaking partner just said?

You can buy yourself a little time by repeating the last words of their sentence, stretched out with some "Hm" sounds. This may tide you over until you can remember how to proceed, for example by asking them to repeat what they just said. It's perfectly acceptable for you to control some aspects of the conversation even if you don't know your target language very well yet.

4) Practice

Even if you follow every single one of the tips above, that feeling of embarrassment is unlikely to just dissolve into thin air. You may still feel discomfort in new situations, and it's still embarrassing to make mistakes. There's no way around this one: At some point, your only way is forward and right through the bad feelings.

Luckily, there is plenty of reward waiting for you on the other side, as you realize that your mistakes and awkward pauses did not cause the ground to open up and swallow you whole.

If you want to push your boundaries and go for speaking practice in a brand new situation, why not take advantage of your next trip abroad? We've got plenty of travel language tips on Episode 41 of the podcast.

Even better, put yourself into an immersion experience with other learners, for example in the Fluent German Retreat led by yours truly. These retreats aim to create a speaking environment that pushes your boundaries without embarrassment, helping you to realize how good you actually are.

It's Not Easy, But It's Worth It

These tips are just a few examples of the many small steps you can take to keep yourself from suffering crippling embarrassment in speaking practice. Keep yourself reminded that this is not easy, and the fact that you are even trying is a testament to your bravery.

And I promise you: The rewards of speaking a foreign language are just as great as you've imagined.

Have You Dealt With Embarrassment and Anxiety About Speaking?

If you've got a story you would like to share, go ahead and share it in the comments section for this post. I'd love to hear your own tips and experiences.