S3E22: Coach yourself through your language learning

Full transcript:

Good morning and a very warm welcome to the Language Confidence Project. I’m your host, Emily Richardson, and I truly believe that one of the biggest difficulties that language learners face isn’t that they don’t know what to do or what resources to use, it’s that they don’t fully believe it’s ever going to happen for them. So, the Language Confidence Project is here to keep you company as you learn your language, and share some tips and reflections from my own journey and my own experiences helping language learners with motivation, productivity, fear and dealing with uncertainty. And today, if your language world is starting to feel a bit harsh and punitive, this is the episode for you. 

When I feel frightened by my to-do list or the things I need to study, it’s normally because my inner teacher has taken on a dictatorial role. She’s being impatient, rude, threatening, or just… unsupportive. But guess what. She isn’t a teacher.

And guess what else.

This isn’t a classroom.

You’re an adult now, and your language learning isn’t one giant test that you’re going to pass or fail at the end. You’re not aiming for 100% and a gold star. This is your journey now. You get to create the learning environment that you want. You get to play around and try all the new things that call to you, just because they sound like a good idea or they sound like they could be interesting. You’re allowed to explore something just because, even if you don’t think you’re going to need it any time soon. You can doodle in your margins.

So talk to yourself like the mentor that you would love to guide you through that journey, Not like someone who’s just itching to give you a detention or fail you for the semester. Tell yourself the words you need to hear. Encourage yourself. Praise yourself for putting in the time and the effort. Ask yourself questions to help yourself solve the problems you’re facing. Be your biggest advocate in your language learning because language learners, the way you talk to yourself makes all the difference in this journey.

So coach yourself through your learning. Think about what you would want a teacher or a mentor or just a really kind and supportive friend to say to you, and say those things. Be that teacher that you always needed, and create that environment you would have dreamed of.

You can do this, language learners. Have a wonderful day, and I will see you back here at 7am UK time tomorrow. 

I’ve just launched my first project of the year which is to have 100 conversations with listeners of the Language Confidence Project in the next few months, to meet you, to hear about how your language journey is going, and to find out what carving your own path means to you. It’s a really informal 30 minute Skype chat over tea or coffee or whatever beverage you should like to bring, it’s completely free, there won’t be any sales pitches or anything like that, and the hope is that we can chat about the hard bits of learning a language but also to celebrate your wins. If you would like to book a call, I have a Calendly link in the shownotes, and it’s also in my Instagram bio at @teawithemily. I can’t wait to hear from you!