My Big Language Mistake
The story in the Podcast recaps my experience learning Japanese, so hopefully, you can learn from my mistakes, and perhaps relate to what I’ve been through.
Episode Summary
🇯🇵 My Japanese Learning Journey
I began learning Japanese 10 years ago — my first foreign language. I was young and excited, and studied every day for 3 years. My focus was on reading, characters, and grammar.
I became confident in reading Japanese texts, but then came the reality check…
At the airport, I couldn’t even speak a word of Japanese! Despite all my studying, I had barely practised speaking.
During my 1-month stay, I had countless embarrassing moments. I could read signs and maps, but couldn’t ask simple questions. I felt ashamed and frustrated.
💡 Lessons Learned
- Don’t neglect speaking: Focus on all areas, especially conversation.
- Don’t give up after setbacks: Mistakes are part of learning.
- Use trips as motivation: Real-world practice helps, but skills may not match your home performance.
- Choose material wisely: Many learner materials don’t reflect real-life situations. Mix in authentic content whenever possible.
Studying for years without practicing speaking can slow down real progress. If you want to improve your language, actively speak and use it — especially before a trip or real-life situation. 🎯
English in the Media
🚀 English in the Media: NASA Moon Mission
This week, we’re looking at an extract from NASA’s YouTube channel. The video talks about traveling to the Moon in 2024 and staying there. Let’s explore some key vocabulary from it.
📚 Key Vocabulary
- The trail we blazed: To find a new path or method; begin something new that hasn’t been tried before.
– He blazed a trail in English learning. His methods had never been done before. - Calling: Destiny or a strong urge to do something.
– My calling is to help people. - Cut through: To do something difficult so it no longer causes a problem; to overcome.
– I cut through my own ideas on what I thought was possible.
Hello,
It was amazing podcast. It gives me hope to complete the way. Actually, I learned English since 3 years ago and I still make mistakes which made angry. Because, I can’t believe it. I practice everyday and I still have bad result. So, I stopped couple of days and where is my mistake. What should I do ?. I suffer with thinking. But with time I recognize I have to learn as habit not marathon horses. At last I want to say if you want to learn anything by yourself take it as a hobby without pressure yourself when I will get hang of it. Just relax take your time whenever you will reach if you put plan with a long term.
Thank very much
Thank you, Mubarak! Don’t worry about your mistakes. First of all, 3 years is not a super long time. No one has mastered a language in 3 years, so it’s important to have the right expectations when it comes to the timeframe. Also, I don’t think the goal of language learning is to stop making mistakes. Maybe reduce them over time, but we all make mistakes when speaking.
You have a great frame of mind here! Sounds like you’re on the right track 🙂
I wonder if you still have the umbrella as a symbol of your first real success in speaking to natives 🙂
I totally forgot about this story until you mentioned it. Thanks for bringing it back up! That is a nice symbol to act as a reminder
Hello Michael 🙂
‘Even no one listens’ (?) Come on Michael. Your podcast is really good. I decided to listen all episodes from the first one. I don’t know how many time I need for that, but I’ll try. Thank you very much for your work. I think my listening skills are getting better thanks to you. Maybe my writing will get better too 🙂 and mayby I’ll finally start speaking ☺️
p.s. Sorry if I make mistakes, I’m learning 😉
Have a good day ☺️
Hi Aneta. Thanks for the kind comment. Well during the times of Episode 6, pretty much no one was listening! A lot of people like you begin the daunting task of listening from episode 1 and somehow manage it. I hope it doesn’t get too dull for you!
Appreciate your support!
I’m mixing old episodes with new ones so maybe I can do it. If anything, I’ll take a break and come back
Thanks, Aneta! Hope both the new and old are enjoyable. I’m sure you’ll notice a different in them though
I am Deborah from the domocratic republic of the congo. I have been following your podcasts for a while and I really enjoy them, they are easy to understand and also fun with the tips you give that really help me. I feel intimidated when I have to speak English with people and I often feel that I don’t know anything and that I’m not learning enough. Thanks to your podcasts I feel I am overcoming my shyness. I was a fan of the American accent since I started following you, I have fallen in love with the British accent, especially yours. Thank you so much, you do a great job. I would love to learn from you.
I hope I didn’t make too many mistakes 🥹.
Hi Deborah. Thanks for following and commenting 🙂 It’s so cool that you found a new passion for the British accent from me! Your written English looks fantastic, so don’t worry. Keep it up, and I hope future episodes continue to help in some way. All the best!
HI im habib, from iran
i have been studying english and i really enjoued to listen to you
Hi Habib,
Thanks so much! I’m glad you’re liking the podcast!
HI im habib, from iran
i have been studying english and i really enjoued to listen you
I love your podcast I don’t get boring when i hear it thank u so much
Thanks so much Mada! I’m glad it’s not boring 🙂
I realise that my previos message have some grammar errors. But, what should I say¿ I’m not familiar with writing skill yet
After see your post NASA video, I found the most recently video about Artemis Project. It’s incredible, we beleongs to the fisrt era of humans that started the deep exploration of the universe. ?????????
https://youtu.be/_fRSaLAEW2s
Thanks for stopping by, Irina! I totally agree – it really amazes me. There’s a lot to be concerned about in the world these days, but I think there’s so much to be optimistic about and excited for when it comes to space travel. It’s an amazing time to be alive!
And don’t worry! Your English is very understandable. Just a couple small changes to be made such as:
After see –> After seeing
Recently video –> Recent video
we beleongs –> we belong
I was offline for some weeks, but I have came back.
I want to thank you for the proofreading and the podcasts, which have been very useful for me!
Thanks, Irina. I’m glad you could come back. Keep up the good practice 🙂
I forgot, can you upload the full transcription with the podcast ? Is so important for understand the listening and learn writing. 🙂
Alright Michael. I enjoy so much your podcast and learn more and more with them. Please, upload more podcast , I prefer podcast because I can hear them in my smartphone. Cheers!!! Debbie
Thanks so much for listening and leaving a comment Debb! I really appreciate it. I’ll keep the podcasts coming every week 🙂
That’s good feedback about the transcripts. As long as people are using them I’ll make them. I’ve just added the transcript for this episode in a link at the top.