Fairy Tale Villains that make 

us quit language learning 

The Cinderella Disney animation movie is a nice movie. However, the original Cinderella stories are not. 

For example, in a famous version from 1812, Cinderella’s father doesn’t die - which sounds positive. However, daddy marries an evil-step mother, and then turns his daughter into a slave.

I see why Disney left this out of their version.

Language learning can be compared to a fairy tale because language learners face real villains, too. (Although, we don't call them villains, we call them challenges)  

What is an example of one of these villains language learners face? 

There is one particularly sly villain; it is an assumption. The assumption is invisible, but it influences us..  And what is this assumption?:

"I know how to learn a language".  - A sneaky villain indeed.  

Let’s say my friend has been learning computer coding for 10 years. He studied at high school, university then hired a private tutor. And, after 10 years he still can’t write a line of code quickly or confidently.

Does my friend know how to learn computer coding well?

No.

Would another 10 years of study help?

Probably not. Assumptions are comfortable and hard to see.  And because assumptions are comfortable and hidden, my friend will probably use the same ineffective learning methods.  

Many language learners continuously use ineffective learning methods, too.

Most likely we absorb a learning method from our school years. This programs us to think: “This is how you learn a language”.

And we use that same style of ineffective learning in university or when we study by ourselves. But, if after a decade of studying another language you still struggle with basic speaking problems then it’s clear that method doesn’t work.

Would another 10 years of study fix the problem?

No.

Why not? Because, most likely, you’ll keep repeating the same ineffective learning method for the next 10 years.  

So, one villain we struggle with is a hidden assumption, a hidden assumption that says: “I know how to learn a language”, (even though the evidence says otherwise).  

However, maybe you conquered this first villain. Maybe you admitted you are having problems then you did the noble thing and asked for help. 

And you lived happily every after.

Of course not. There’s another villain waiting in the dark.

Getting advice doesn’t mean we’ll actually follow the advice.  And this is the second villain of today’s story:

"Not following advice".

Honestly? This villain is very strong in my life.

A few years ago I had a sore back, so I got help from a physiotherapist. The physiotherapist gave me an assortment of stretches and exercise. They were great!.  And I did them for two weeks - then I quit.

Not long after that I herniated a disc in my lower back. And for the next 6 months I needed three types of painkillers to deal with the pain.   (Note: I do stretches and exercises now, 3 times a week)  

We do this in language learning, too. Maybe you’ve received some good advice and followed the advice for a week or a month.  But, there's a villain hiding inside of us and it makes us quit. 

But, we can’t be too hard on ourselves. I am programmed to not follow advice.  And so are you. It's not that we're stubborn, it's just that following advice means changing a habit.  And that's very hard to do. You see, a habit has one job. It’s job is to NOT change.  Which is good...and bad. But, ultimately, it means we need a lot of motivation to change a habit.  

So, how about you? Do you see either of these two villains hiding inside of you?

Have you been learning for years and years with no real progress? If so, there is a villain close by - very close. It’s time to slow down and face, and challenge, that hidden assumption about learning a language. 

Maybe you accepted your situation and received some excellent advice, but you just can’t follow through with new study habits. Then it’s time to get into a group. They are called support groups, and they ‘support’ us through the learning process.  

The Cinderella fairytale is not just a story, it’s a metaphor for overcoming difficulties. You are living a Cinderella story and, believe it or not, you are the hero in your story. Everything big goal in life, including language mastery, will need to overcome all sorts of villains. It’s not easy facing them, but many people do.  

And, that’s the price you pay to speak happily ever after.