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By Canela
Something that stops many language learners from enhancing their skills is the fear of making mistakes. These mistakes may make us feel disappointed in ourselves or we may even be met with judgment from others.
However, mistakes are part of the learning process. By accepting our mistakes and being supportive of ourselves and one another, we can make great leaps in our language learning journey!
Learning = Mistakes
‘Learning’ is not getting everything correct on the first try. Remember: Don’t bind yourself to unrealistic expectations. Learning is a process. Mistakes are necessary in order to achieve your goal of fluency. To understand your weaknesses in order to overcome them, it is essential to make mistakes.
Awareness of your mistakes makes you less susceptible to repeating these mistakes. Taking a step in order to overcome mistakes takes you one step closer to mastery of a language.
Language Masters Also Make Mistakes
“Me and Jessica are going outside.” or “The amount of years it took me to get this job is absurd.” or the word “cemetery.”
How many times have we made mistakes in our native languages? How many words do we still not know how to spell, despite having to read it throughout our lives due to its customariness?
Mistakes are unavoidable throughout the language learning process. Fearing these mistakes will only limit the boundaries of our skills and the power of our minds to learn.
Sometimes, Our Biggest Hater is…Ourselves
While it may be hard for some to step out of their comfort zone and practice speaking your target language, more than often, we criticize ourselves more than others. Be kind to yourself, and focus on your improvements rather than your mistakes.
Be Supportive
Always be encouraging towards others’ (and yourselves) language learning. Making a safe environment for language learners is a catalyst for avid learning and improvement!
About Canela
As a Zapotec Mexican-American, Canela is always on the lookout for the complexities of the unique experiences of those in cultures around the world. She is passionate about the use of language, rhetoric, and media to let people’s voices about challenges in their community be heard. As an avid student, she has no time to participate in her hobbies of design and video games.