The fear of not getting better
Often when we start learning a language, progress is fast and noticeable because you start from zero, and then anything you learn is obvious. But once we reach a good level, it’s harder to notice your progress. This is what we call the ‘intermediate plateau’. It’s also very common to have a great level in terms of your vocabulary and what you can understand, but still have trouble speaking. Speaking anxiety may be holding you back.
Try these tips
- Firstly, it’s important to recognise how far you’ve come already. What can you do now that you weren’t able to before?
- Instead of studying more bits of language, try to actually use English to enjoy your hobbies and interests. That way you can see the real results of your hard work.
- Be clear about your future goals. Decide what you want to achieve, then make a clear plan for how to get there.