Why People NEVER Become FLUENT in English or any other foreign language

Hello, everyone! Welcome back to my YouTube channel. Today is going to be a little bit  

different other video than I usually do. In today's video we're going to talk about  

the most common reasons people use for not being able to become fluent in a foreign language.  

And I think you have used some of those same reasons before. Okay let's start with reason  

number one. I'm too old to learn a new language.Many people often say that the older you are,  

the less flexible your brain is. Young people learn much faster. Age is a significant factor  

in language learning. But research  has shown that it’s not always true.

Although it may be easier for  children to learn a new language,  

adults can also become fluent by  practicing and being dedicated.

In fact, studies have found that adults  may have some benefits over children in  

learning a new language, like knowing about grammar and using analytical thinking skills. 

“No I'm too old for learning” is usually a bad reason to say. I do think that it’s never too  

late to learn a new language or start something new. The greatest thing about it is that it keeps  

your brain active: Learning a foreign language can help keep your brain active and sharp. It  

can improve your memory and cognitive function, which is good for your overall mental health. 

Some people might be afraid to learn a new language because making mistakes while learning  

can be uncomfortable for many of us.

I feel like one of the most common reasons why so many people always say that I'm too old to  

learn a new language, is that they’re  just feel bad when they make mistakes.

We all make mistakes.

Reason number two is I don't have enough time. Time is valuable, but it's necessary to prioritize  

learning a language. You don't have to spend several hours every day studying to become fluent,  

but practicing regularly over a long  period of time is what matters most. 

Try to make language learning a part of  your daily routine such as listening to  

podcasts or practicing vocabulary  while driving or walking outside.

Like I told you before, guys, I was  obsessed with learning Turkish, like,  

a year ago. And one of the reasons why my Turkish is not improving right now is that I don't have  

enough time. But in reality I can always find time for doing the things that are important to me,  

and to be honest with you, the reason,  the main reason why my Turkish is not  

improving right now is because it's not my priority. But I really do want to make it  

my priority and study the language every day and what helps me usually is making  

a daily habit and telling myself: okay Kate, every day at 5 pm you have to study Turkish.

Before we continue to practice I just want to say if you're enjoying this video so far,  

don't forget to give it a like and  subscribe to my channel, if you haven’t yet 

If you like my content, you can  send me a superthanks and you can  

use donation alerts if you want  to make me a little bit happier.

Reason number three is I'm not good at languages. 

Many people think that they were not born with the ability to learn languages easily,  

but actually, learning languages is a  skill that can get better with practice.

You may need to try different methods and strategies and find what works best for you. 

For example, some people may prefer learning a language with textbooks and grammar exercises.  

But I don't think it's the best method but for some people it works. While others may prefer a  

more immersive approach with conversation practice  which works a lot better, I do believe that using  

a real and genuine method when you try to focus  on the input works the best. And I have a video  

about it right here, you can check it out and know why some people practice a lot and they  

still can’t speak a language and what you need to do to make English learning a fun activity. 

Actually, I do think that many people  who work a lot, who study English a lot,  

may even get offended when you just say “oh, you know, you're just talented, you have a natural  

ability to learn languages” What? 

Another significant aspect is dealing  with constant criticism which can be a  

challenging experience, especially  when it comes to our mistakes. 

When people constantly criticize even your small  mistakes, it can make you feel really bad and  

demotivated. You might start to think that you're  not capable of doing things which is not true.  

Mistakes are just a natural part of our learning. Listen, we all make mistakes. 

And again guys, on my channel I have  a lot of videos where I talked about  

why grammar exercises might be so boring for some people and what you can do to change it.

Reason number four is I don't live in  a country where the language is spoken.

Although it can be helpful to live in  a country where the language is spoken,  

it's not necessary to become fluent. You  can still learn the language by using  

online resources and language exchange programs to immerse yourself in it.

You might want to think about  joining language learning groups,  

like a speaking club or finding language  exchange partners to practice speaking with.

Reason number five is I don't  have anyone to practice with 

Having someone to practice with can be helpful but, again, it's not necessary. To become fluent,  

you can practice speaking with native  speakers online or through language  

exchange programs or even practice speaking to yourself or recording yourself speaking. 

If you're wondering how I improved my English without talking to anyone, you can watch this  

video. I‘m originally from a small town in  Russia, and when I started learning English,  

I only had the opportunity to practice English with other non-native speakers. However, I have to  

say that my teachers were absolutely incredible. They made me fall in love with the language.

Reason number six is I’m too  shy to speak the language

A lot of people feel shy when speaking  a new language, but it's important to  

know that making mistakes is normal  when learning. So don't be afraid to  

speak up and make mistakes, because  they can actually help you improve.

Think about finding a group of  people who are learning the same  

language or a partner who can help  you practice speaking in a friendly  

and encouraging way. This can boost  your confidence and help you improve.

A supportive environment is really  important. Having people around who  

are helpful and encouraging is really important. 

If the people around you always criticize  your English, you will not improve. If the  

people around you support you and  cheer you on, you will improve.

You can build your confidence by  practicing speaking in easy situations,  

like ordering food at a restaurant  or asking for directions. These  

simple daily situations can help you get  more comfortable speaking the language.

I had trouble being able to speak in a foreign language when I lived in Turkey. But I knew  

that speaking up in daily situations could be helpful. And that is exactly what I was doing  

with Turkish. I always tried to speak Turkish when I ordered food or asked for directions. 

Well, I’ve mentioned some of the most  common reasons people use for not becoming  

fluent in a foreign language. If you  find yourself using any of these reasons,  

try to change your mindset and at  the same time be kind to yourself. 

It's completely normal to come up with reasons and we all do that. However, you always have  

to remind yourself what your goal is. What's your goal in English learning? If  

your goal is becoming more advanced,  more fluent in English, then yes,  

you should avoid relying on those reasons and instead focus on the active language learning.

Thank you guys for watching! If you enjoyed this video,  

don't forget to hit the like button  and subscribe to my channel for more  

language learning tips and I'll  see you in the next one. [Music]