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What do you do when you feel you're terrible at learning foreign languages?
   I've been thinking about how to phrase my question but I suppose that it's actually something along the lines of "has anyone here experienced moments of despair when learning languages?". If yes, how did you overcome them?

Yesterday, I had a lesson in a language I'm learning at the moment - well, I think I understood about 50% of what was being said, and I still have a terrible headache because even that wasn't easy. I stopped actively learning English (using textbooks and other materials) a couple of months ago, so maybe it's no wonder my English has become worse since then, but it's just humiliating that I'm unable to say things I had no difficulty saying not long time ago. And, better still, now I even make mistakes in the language I speak every day. Just great.

I've always known that I don't really have linguistic talents, but it's got to the point I'm ready to smash dishes against the wall when I feel I have trouble speaking another language. Do you have any advice? What do other language learners usually do in these situations?

Comments · 10

5
My first reaction was "Welcome to the club, sister." However, there was a discussion a few days ago in which many people actually got upset being addressed sister or brother by a stranger.  I will just say, "Welcome to the club."
3
Stop all learning for a week to reset. Don't think about it for a week. Then try again. 
2
Yes, most of the time. But without the struggle and despair and hardship, would it really be meaningful to reach fluency on another language? If it were easy, would we care?
2

Some advice for you.

1. Ask yourself what's the reason that you picked up a new language at first? For fun, for work or other reasons? 

2. Give yourself a break. Could be a few days to a few weeks. 

3. Positive thinking. Knowing that you are actually progressing day by day might be a great relief for you. Don't be too harsh on yourself. We cannot master a language in a very short period of time. 

4. If learning that language really does not make you feel any fun or even bring you lots of worries, doubt and pain. You might need to consider stop learning it for a certain period of time. 

5. Find some fun stuff to do, such as listening to the music in that language, watching a foreign movie or simply making new friends who speak that language. 

Hope these help. Good luck and have fun. 

1

Hello, Kseniia

    "The-look-like-deactivated-accounts have been happening recently. Richard said it'd probably the system has been down.

    Anyway, here's what i did when I felt stuck in learning one of the target languages. I switched the languages.

     For example, I'm improving my Chinese and learning Cantonese and Japanese at the meantime. Whenever I got frustrated with my Chinese, I just watched or listened to Cantonese or Japanese channel on Youtube. Or, I merely listened to Taiwanese talk show to stimulate my initial fondness of it. Entertaining and funny talk shows never fail me.

     Unfortunately, I've never seriously learned English, it's too intimidating.

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