In Spain it is called “Verguenza” in other countries I am sure they have their own terminology, but the fear of making mistakes is what prevents most language learners from advancing their language skills. An issue for language learners is that they think these mistakes are uncommon, and that it is just them that repeats mistakes. They feel under confident in their ability and that they are unable to master a foreign language. The point that I am trying to get across here is that this is a ridiculous notion!
All language learners make mistakes. I don´t care if you are Michel Thomas (one of the most famous linguists of all time, for those of you who didn’t know), all language learners struggle to make progress at some point in the learning process. What you need to understand is that mistakes are a fantastic part of language learning, the indicate what we need to practise, the gaps in our knowledge and also that we are trying new things and thus, learning. It may seem weird, but you must seek the feeling of discomfort that you feel when you are making errors. When we make errors we are advancing as we should be.
It is, of course, essential to learn from mistakes and this is why it is so important to learn in an organised way. You must have a notebook to take notes of your errors so that you can improve on them and enhance your language skills.
Mistakes are an essential part of language learning and are a fantastic indication of what you need to improve.
At Intercambioidiomasonline, we focus on the learner and helping their progress. We suggest a change in attitude towards mistakes. When you make a mistake, you need to think to yourself, “excellent, now I know what I need to review”. You should see mistakes as something positive. These mistakes will act as your “To Do List”. From your notes of your mistakes, you can go over specific grammar structures and vocabulary points to make sure that you can improve for the next conversation.
You should look at the learning of a language as a circular process that never ends. You need to constantly recycle and reuse language to make sure that you don’t get rusty and that you can always express yourself in a fluent way. This is why it is so important to have a constant contact with the language.
We cannot express more the importance of motivation in language learning and the way it can affect your progress. If you feel confident in your ability, this will have an effect on the way you communicate. Believe in yourselves and your ability and you will see that the sky’s the limit. Everyone is capable of learning a language, you just need to make an effort and have the necessary motivation to persevere. The best way to do this is to do it with other people who share similar goals and will have an impact on your learning! You are not alone, we are all here to support you!
