Fluency with Ease: A New Perspective on Language Learning
Who’s Holding You Back from Learning a New Language (Without Realising It)? You.
As a teacher with over 16 years of experience, I have observed many factors that make language acquisition more difficult, often without students even realising they are sabotaging themselves. What has stood out to me the most over the years, teaching Portuguese to foreigners and English to Portuguese speakers, is that the way we treat ourselves internally directly influences our learning.
Neuroscience has already shown that learning is deeply affected by our emotional state. When we are anxious, insecure, or overly self-critical, our brain enters a state of alertness that inhibits the formation of new neural connections essential for memory and retention. This happens because fear and self-criticism activate the amygdala, the region responsible for processing stress, reducing the activity of the hippocampus, which is crucial for learning.
In other words, if every time you speak a new language, you criticise yourself for forgetting a word, making a mistake, or not structuring a sentence perfectly, your brain interprets this as a threat and makes the process even harder. You enter a negative cycle where the fear of making mistakes blocks your learning.
On the other hand, Positive Psychology suggests that self-confidence and a growth mindset are key factors in successfully acquiring new skills. Studies show that positive self-talk the way we speak to ourselves can transform how we learn.
Instead of saying, “I’m terrible at this” or “I’ll never get it right,” try phrases like:
“I may not have remembered that word now, but I will next time.”
“I managed to communicate, and that’s already a big achievement!”
“I formed a complete sentence in another language, and I’m proud of that!”
If you look around, you’ll notice that the most confident learners often make mistakes but keep going and, in the end, they are understood. This is because they don’t let self-criticism paralyse them. The goal of communication is not grammatical perfection but the exchange of ideas and information.
So, if you want to accelerate your learning, start by practising self-compassion. Replace frustration with curiosity, fear of mistakes with a desire to experiment. Celebrate small victories and treat yourself with the same patience you would offer someone you love. Your brain will thank you, and your fluency will come much faster.
