Wright English

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Your English is improving, but you don’t feel like you are working hard enough?

Remember when you first started to learn English? It felt like you worked really hard every lesson and you left the classroom knowing so much more every time! Now you are a more advanced learner and you are starting to feel like your progress is slowing down, and you don’t feel like you are working hard enough anymore. Does this sound familiar? Let’s explore why this might be.

1.       You are in your comfort zone: You might feel like you are not working hard enough because you have become comfortable learning. This is not a bad thing. Feeling comfortable practicing and using your English is a skill, and it is extremely important for learning. There is a risk that you might become afraid to leave your comfort zone though. Make sure you continue to stretch yourself. Maybe you could begin listening to English podcasts or join an expat group to meet English speakers. Try something new when you get this feeling.

2.       You are comparing your learning to school: This is very common! Most of us learned our first foreign language at school. School comes with a lot of authority, strict rules, and exercises. We know that this is not the best way to learn something like a language, but we still think we should be working harder. Try to relax into your lessons and enjoy them. A relaxed mind learns much better than a stressed mind.

3.       Your teacher has lost their way: It is possible that you are realising that you really are not progressing much anymore. Speak to your teacher about this. You should always feel comfortable discussing your learning with your teacher. Perhaps your teacher feels the same way. You can discuss how to go forward together, or whether it is time to finish your lessons with your teacher.

The most important thing to remember is always talk to your teacher about how you feel! Good teachers love honest feedback because they always want to improve.


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