You've Studied English for 10 Years – So Why Can't You Speak It?

Many of us share a common frustration:

We've studied English for over a decade, our vocabularies are massive, and we know grammar rules inside out. But the moment we meet a native speaker and try to say something, our minds go blank, our faces flush red, and all we can manage is an awkward "Hello, how are you?"

Why do we invest so much time and effort, only to remain 'silent English' learners?

The problem isn't that we haven't tried hard enough; it's that we've been barking up the wrong tree from the start.

Learning a Language Isn't Rote Learning; It's Like Learning to Cook

Imagine you want to learn to cook.

You buy stacks of top-tier cookbooks, memorising The Art of Cooking and Introduction to Molecular Gastronomy cover to cover. You spend 8 hours a day binging every cooking show, from everyday home cooking to Michelin-star feasts, knowing every step, every ingredient, and the perfect heat like the back of your hand.

Now, I ask you: Do you think you can cook?

Of course not. You're just a 'food critic,' not a 'chef.' Your head's crammed with theory, but you've never actually stepped foot in a kitchen or picked up a spatula.

Learning a language is the same.

Most of us are busy being 'language armchair experts.' We're madly memorising vocabulary (like cookbook ingredients), devouring grammar rules (studying cooking theory), and binging on listening practice (watching cooking shows). We assume that if we absorb enough, understand enough, one day we'll naturally be able to speak.

But this is precisely the biggest misconception. Understanding doesn't mean speaking. Just like understanding a recipe doesn't mean you can cook.

'Speaking' and 'writing' are like doing the actual cooking; they're 'output.' While 'listening' and 'reading' are like looking at cookbooks; they're 'input.' If you only observe and never do, you'll forever be just a spectator.

Even Your Native Language Can Get Rusty, Just Like a Chef's Skills

This principle even applies to our native language.

Imagine a top-notch Sichuan chef who moves overseas and spends twenty years only making pasta and pizza. When they return to Chengdu and want to whip up a plate of authentic Twice-Cooked Pork, do you think their skills will be as sharp as they once were?

Probably not. They might forget the precise ratio of certain spices or find their feel for the heat has dulled.

Language is also a form of 'muscle memory.' If you spend 90% of your day speaking English, your Chinese 'muscles' will naturally atrophy. You'll find yourself struggling to recall characters when writing, mixing English grammar into your speech, or even taking ages to articulate a simple thought.

So, don't take your native language for granted. It also needs us to nurture, use, and refine it, just like a foreign language.

Be a 'Home Cook,' Not a 'Food Connoisseur'

Many people get scared when they think about learning a language, as it seems like an endless road. You learn 'hello' today, and tomorrow there are thousands more words and usages waiting for you.

Don't be afraid. Let's go back to the cooking analogy.

Learning to whip up a simple scrambled eggs with tomato dish means you can feed yourself. That's like mastering basic conversation and being able to handle everyday communication. Progress at this stage is rapid.

But learning to make something like 'Buddha Jumps Over the Wall' is just the icing on the cake. It's fantastic, but it doesn't affect your daily meals. That's like learning advanced vocabulary and rare usages; it can make your expression more elegant, but the returns on improving your core communication skills are diminishing.

So, our goal isn't to become a 'culinary theorist' who understands every cuisine, but to become a 'home cook' who can effortlessly whip up a few reliable dishes. Fluently communicating is far more important than perfectly mastering everything.

Stop Just Looking at Recipes; Get Into the Kitchen!

Now, the real challenge: If you've never actually spoken, how do you even begin?

The answer is simple: Start the moment you decide to open your mouth.

Don't wait for that 'I'm ready' day. You'll never truly be 'ready.' Just like learning to cook, your first dish might well be a disaster, but that's all part of the journey to becoming a chef.

You don't need more theory; you need a 'kitchen' where you can safely 'mess up' without worrying about being laughed at.

In the past, this was tough. You had to find a patient language partner or shell out for a private tutor. But now, technology has given us an excellent practice ground.

Chat apps like Intent are like a global kitchen, open just for you. You can find people from all corners of the world to chat with, anytime, anywhere, and practise your 'cooking skills.' The best part is, it has built-in AI real-time translation. So, when you get stuck for words or can't remember how to say a particular 'ingredient,' it's like having a master chef right there beside you, giving you instant prompts. Here, you can make mistakes boldly, because every mistake is a step forward.

Head over to Intent now and start your first 'cook-up'!

Stop settling for being a bystander.

The world's rich feast is waiting for you to speak up and taste it.