If you don't use it, you'll lose it Have you ever felt like you're losing your ability in speaking a foreign language? Well, I've been struggling with this sentiment for a while, and it gets even wor

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If you don't use it, you'll lose it Have you ever felt like you're losing your ability in speaking a foreign language? Well, I've been struggling with this sentiment for a while, and it gets even worse when I realize I wasn't supposed to feel that way since people come after me when they have any questions with their language acquisition progress. Well, I'm running in circles here, so I'll try to explain better. I am an English teacher. I went to college. I know how the language learning process works. HOWEVER, I'm feeling extremely insecure with my English because I'm feeling I'm not "using" it very often. I have the chance to speak English every day, but I'm currently teaching kids and basic students. That means I get the chance to speak, but I can't expect an advanced and elaborated response back. It sounds kind of selfish, I know. I've chosen to be a teacher and I love what I do, but I can't help feeling insecure. I've never thought that you had to be a native speaker to be the best teacher ever, but now I'm starting to think that every native speaker will be one step ahead of any good well-trained non-native teacher. And if you are a non-native teacher (like me) living in a non-English speaker country (like mine) it gets really hard to keep your mind working in the target language and your tongue "sharped." And to add more frustration to this text, when I remember I used to be an upper intermediate Spanish and French student, and now the only words I can remember are silla and salut, and I understand I've lost all my language capacity because I had no one to speak Spanish and French with, I fear for my English abilities as well. I don't want to lose all my progress so far conquered. I'm afraid I'll have to change my career in the future, but I hope not.

Corrections · 12

If you don't use it, you'll lose it

Have you ever felt like you're losing your ability in speaking a foreign language? Well, I've been struggling with this sentiment for a while, and it gets even worse when I realize I'm supposed to feel that way, since people come to me when they have any questions with (or "about") their language acquisition progress.

Well, I'm running in circles here, so I'll try to explain better. I am an English teacher. I went to college. I know how the language learning process works. HOWEVER, I'm feeling extremely insecure with my English because I'm feeling I'm not "using" it very often. I have the chance to speak English every day, but I'm currently teaching kids and basic students. That means I get the chance to speak, but I can't expect an advanced and elaborated response (you don't really need the "back", but it isn't wrong). It sounds kind of selfish, I know. I've chosen to be a teacher and I love what I do, but I can't help feeling insecure.

I've never thought that you had to be a native speaker to be the best teacher ever, but now I'm starting to think that every native speaker will be one step ahead of any good, well-trained non-native teacher*. And if you are a non-native teacher (like me) living in a non-English speaker country (like mine) it gets really hard to keep your mind working in the target language and your tongue "sharpened." And to add more frustration to this text, when I remember I used to be an upper intermediate Spanish and French student, and now the only words I can remember are silla and salut, (this is now the main clause starting) I understand I've lost all my language capacity because I had no one to speak Spanish and French with. I fear for my English abilities as well.

I don't want to lose all my progress so far conquered. I'm afraid I'll have to change my career in the future, but I hope not.

* A native speaker has an advantage in deep knowledge and usage. But many native speakers do not speak accurate, grammatical English. And learners, beginners to intermediate, do not need a subject expert who does not know how to teach. They need an expert teacher, who can help them over the hurdles they face. Eventually, after many years, a few of them may grow to reach your level ; most never will, and do not need to. I am quite sure that you are a better teacher of English than I, an untrained native speaker, could aspire to be

On the loss of language skills theme, I feel your pain. I have experienced this too. And I once knew an Englishwoman who lived for several years as an adult in South America speaking only Spanish. When she came back to London, it took her many months to regain her native fluency in English.

If you don't use it, you'll lose it

Have you ever felt like you're losing your ability in speaking a foreign language? Well, I've been struggling with this sentiment (feeling) for a while. What's worse is I realize I'm not supposed to feel that way since people come to me when they have any questions about their language acquisition progress.

Well, I'm running in circles here, so I'll try to explain better. I am an English teacher. I went to college. I know how the language learning process works. HOWEVER, I'm feeling extremely insecure with my English because I'm feeling I'm not "using" it very often. I have the chance to speak English every day, but I'm currently teaching kids and basic students. That means I get the chance to speak, but I can't expect an advanced and elaborated response back. It sounds kind of selfish, I know. I've chosen to be a teacher and I love what I do, but I can't help feeling insecure.

I've never thought that you had to be a native speaker to be the best teacher ever, but now I'm starting to think that every native speaker will be one step ahead of any good well-trained non-native teacher. And if you are a non-native teacher (like me) living in a non-English speaking country (like mine) it gets really hard to keep your mind working in the target language and your tongue "sharp." And to add more frustration to this text, when I remember I used to be an upper intermediate Spanish and French student, and now the only words I can remember are silla and salut, and I understand I've lost all my language capacity because I had no one to speak Spanish and French with, I fear for my English abilities as well.

I don't want to lose all my progress so far conquered ( you don't 'conquer' progress). I'm afraid I'll have to change my career in the future, but I hope not.

Hi, Wilian! I`ve never heard about this podcast before, but I`m going to google it. Thanks!

Hi, Antonio! Thank you for your comment. Well, I confess I`m not practicing as much as I should, especially reading, but I do listen to English a lot. For example, I watch TV programs and some youtube channels in English, I listen to some podcasts. They help me to keep understanding the language, but it`s not like in a real-life conversation. I`m used to speaking with myself sometimes just because I need to "verbalize" what I`ve learned. But once again, there`s no one there to help and correct me.

Did you think about having a language partner to practice with? Or maybe you could benefit of some podcasts like "Let's Master English".

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