Fail Your Way to Success: The 5 Best—and Worst—Language Mistakes to Make

Learn a Language by Making Mistakes and make it best

Language Mistakes Hurt

After over a year in Brazil, I still feel embarrassed when I forget how to say “It was nice to meet you” in Portuguese. My buddies rarely understand my stories. It is embarrassing when no one gets your best humor.

I apologize or thank strangers for their tolerance. Estou engraçado em inglês—prometo! (“I’m funny in English—promise!”)

Language learners are continually reminded of their ignorance. I think many students quit language learning because they strive to be excellent from the start.

Perfectionism hurts us. Willingness to make mistakes is one of the traits that create good language learners. Research shows that mistakes make us smarter.

Only some errors. Others can hinder learning.

I will explain which linguistic faults to make and which to avoid in this essay.

Grammar Errors

Good grammar errors.

Why?

First, you make grammar blunders whether speaking or writing. Grammar errors indicate practice. That will improve language use and reduce grammatical faults.

Second, mistakes help us learn. Mistakes improve learning.

Finally, language learning is about communicating. Even if you make blunders, speaking a second language is a win. Grammar should not matter. In time.
Poor Speech

From acquiring your mother tongue as a baby to learning a second, third, or fourth language, you will speak poorly. Everyone begins.

Always practice.

Practice will help you speak more naturally and without pauses.

Scientist, imagine. Scientists learn from mistakes. Thus, science writer Adam Frank calls blunders “the essence of scientific heroism”.

Use horrible language, pronunciation, and tones. Keep talking. You will improve that way.

Accent

Your natural accent may cause you to pronounce words differently from native speakers, depending on the language you are studying.

I can not pronounce Portuguese “r”. or French. or Spanish. My mouth moves differently.

No problem. Your accent reveals your heritage and culture. Why speak like a Parisian if you were never reared there? You want to be understood. Do not “lose” your accent.

Focus on pronunciation to talk clearly, not accent. Everyone’s accented.

Feel Silly Around Strangers

Speaking another language makes you feel ridiculous 90% of the time, in my experience. So it goes.

No one is judging you. Everyone knows language learning is hard. You will get more sympathy than criticism.

Embrace discomfort. It’s good. You grow by leaving your comfort zone.

You can also practice your language online if you are embarrassed by strangers. HelloTalk, HelloPal, and Tandem enable you find a virtual discussion companion.

Language exchange’s best part? Half in your native language. You feel ridiculous half the time, then your partner does. It balances!

Misuse Study Methods

Try numerous study strategies to find one that works for you.

We differ. A approach that works for hundreds may not work for you. Trial and error will reveal your best method.

Pimsleur emphasizes organic, rapid, and targeted learning. It might be perfect. Free 7-Day Trial with unlimited access to all levels in your language.

Not Planning

No plan, no language goals. As a language teacher, I have found that students with a strategy do best.

Avoid improvising. Make your own language immersion program at home. Track and adapt your language development.

Avoiding Talk

Language practice is crucial. Reading, writing, and listening are fantastic. However, speaking it with others is crucial.

Only by speaking a language will you improve.

Speak up

. Try online chats if in-person ones are daunting. (See our online language exchange tips).
Boring Things

Grammar exercises, vocabulary lists, and language books can bore you. Then what? Your concentration may wander, resulting in less language learning time.

Find something you enjoy to learn a language. Even without language skills, these are fun.

Netflix, podcasts, TV, music, cooking, and even video games can be language activities.

Learn how to include language study into your everyday with fun activities. Love keeps you going, even when it is hard.

Teacher Dependence

A excellent language class or tutor can boost learning performance, but you should not rely on them to learn a language.

You learn. You determine your fluency.

Do not rely too much on language classes or tutors. It will limit your success.

Rushing

Language learning takes time. Danish and Dutch, which are close to English, can take 750 hours to learn, according to the US Foreign Service Institute. Japanese can take 2,200 hours to learn.

Focusing, you can learn a language in a year. However, you must use your language for at least an hour a day.

That is a lot of time, but that is why learning a language is so worthwhile. Invest in it.

Allow adequate time. Schedule language learning time.