"I'm tired of learning English! I've been doing it for most of my life and I never seem to 'get there'"

👆 A recent comment during an onboarding session with a new coachee (and it's not the first time I've heard similar comments.)

Firstly, I want to say this: I completely empathise with this person! It is very frustrating for language learners, especially when they've been studying for a long time and still don't feel they've "arrived" at their goal.

Unfortunately for this person, they work in a multinational and really NEED English for their career. So, now we arrive at a common impasse: they need English, but they really don't feel motivated to continue learning.

What can this person do?

Well, let me share a few ideas that have worked with my clients over my more than 20 years as an English teacher and coach...

Steps to Get Back on Track with English Learning

1. Take a Step Back and Reflect. Look at how far you've come! I'm sure if you think about it rationally, you can see that you've made a lot of progress. Maybe even write down a few specific improvements you’ve made over time, even if they seem small.

2. Reevaluate Your Goals. Perhaps it's time to ask yourself what you're aiming for. Are your goals too broad or unrealistic? Break them down into smaller, more achievable tasks.

3. Practice makes progress! Remember that perfection isn't the goal. Track your progress in small ways, like keeping a journal of new words or phrases you’ve learned.

4. Set Short-Term, Achievable Goals. Set some specific, short-term goals. For example, “I want to be able to discuss my sector in English” or “I want to learn five new words this week.”

5. Identify What’s Working and What Isn’t Don't just carry on using techniques which don't work for you! Think about which learning methods have been most effective for you. Are there any that just don’t seem to help? Focus on what has worked best.

6. Incorporate Your Interests. Try mixing up English learning with things you enjoy, like watching YouTube videos on topics you love or reading about your hobbies in English.

7. Change Up Your Routine. If you’re feeling stuck, change your learning routine. Try a new app, join a conversation group, or start a language exchange with a native speaker.

8. Reconnect with Your Original Motivation. This one is very important! Remind yourself why you started learning English. Write down the reasons and keep them somewhere you can go back to them regularly.

9. Ask for Help or Feedback. Don’t be afraid to ask your coach or peers for feedback. Sometimes an outside perspective can help you see things differently and get back on track.

If you feel you need some help getting 'back on track' with your English, then get in touch with me HERE