The podcast discusses the importance of recognizing when a resource is too advanced, overcoming limiting beliefs and time limits in language learning, and embracing language challenges. It emphasizes the need to focus on improving skills first and celebrates language learning wins.
Having a growth mindset and believing in the potential for progress and improvement is crucial in language learning.
Setting realistic expectations and embracing the idea that progress takes time is important for maintaining motivation in language learning.
Deep dives
Belief in Progress and Growth
The podcast discusses the importance of having a growth mindset and believing in the potential for progress and improvement in language learning. The host shares a personal story about her daughter's sewing project, highlighting the idea that sometimes we just need to get better first before attempting more advanced tasks. The host reflects on her own struggles with setting arbitrary time limits and feeling defeated when faced with challenging resources or language learning milestones. Embracing the mindset of continuous improvement and acknowledging the progress made so far are key to maintaining motivation and joy in language learning.
Unspoken Time Limits and Arbitrary Expectations
The episode explores the tendency to set unspoken time limits and arbitrary expectations when it comes to language learning. The host shares examples of her own experiences, such as wanting to become fluent in Italian in one year. She acknowledges how these self-imposed time limits can lead to feelings of defeat and cause resources to be set aside prematurely. Instead, the importance of setting a realistic pace and recognizing that language learning is a journey is emphasized. The host encourages listeners to let go of rigid expectations and embrace the idea that progress takes time.
The Power of Getting Better First
The podcast highlights the power of acknowledging one's current skill level and actively working to improve before tackling more challenging language resources. The host emphasizes the value of taking breaks, reinforcing foundational knowledge, and returning to previously difficult materials with a fresh perspective. By adopting the mindset of 'getting better first,' language learners can build their confidence, make steady progress, and ultimately surpass the level needed to master difficult content. The episode ends with a reminder of the listener's language learning wins and the celebration of joyful language experiences.
Are you the kind of language learner who meets something above your skill level and starts to tell yourself that you're just bad at this thing? It's too big. You're not the kind of person who can. You kinda already knew this language was too hard to begin with. I've found myself doing this loads of times while learning Italian and German, but a recent encounter with my daughter reminded me that sometimes we just need to get better first. We just need to get back to the language resources that are at our level and keep practicing. Instead of totally writing off those challenging things and telling ourselves that we're just bad at it, we're better served to remind ourselves that languages are hard, we are learning languages, and maybe we just aren't ready for what we've encountered...yet. We just have to get better first.
If you're someone who loves learning languages and are looking for some extra insight into how to learn a language, then you've come to the right place. I love sharing my language journey as an adult language learner, and this includes the personal self-growth and mindset shift things many language learners don't often consider. Language learning is a beautiful and fulfilling journey, and it brings me great joy to share this love with passionate language learners like me.