It's Not That Your English is Bad, You Just Haven't 'Taken the Plunge'

Do you ever reckon it's a bit strange? We've studied English for nearly ten years, from high school right through uni. We've bought heaps of vocabulary books, and we can rattle off grammar rules like nobody's business. But then, when we come across a foreigner, our minds just go completely blank, and we even stumble trying to get out a simple, "How are you?"

We've all fallen into a massive trap, mistakenly thinking that learning English is just like cramming for a history exam – just memorise the textbook inside out, and you'll ace it.

But today, I want to hit you with a bit of a harsh truth, that might also make you feel a bit better: learning English was never about 'hitting the books', it's about 'learning to swim'.

You'll Never Learn to Swim By Standing on the Sidelines

Imagine this: you want to learn to swim.

You've bought every book on swimming you can find, you've studied every single stroke, from freestyle to breaststroke, breaking down each movement. You can even reel off the formula for water buoyancy by heart. You've become an expert in swimming theory.

Then, someone shoves you in. What happens?

You'll just flail about, swallow a few mouthfuls of water, and quickly realise all that knowledge you've crammed has absolutely zero use once you're actually in the water.

This is exactly our dilemma when it comes to learning English. We're all 'swimming theorists' standing on the sidelines. We've spent countless hours 'researching' English, but we rarely truly 'jump in' and use it.

People who are fluent in English aren't necessarily smarter or more naturally gifted than you. They just have one thing in common: they've already taken the plunge, and they're not afraid of copping a bit of a mouthful.

They get that language isn't just something you 'memorise' like a subject; it's a skill designed for 'communication'. Just like swimming or riding a bike, the only real secret is to – get stuck in and use it.

How Do You Go From 'Shore' to 'Water'?

Changing your mindset is the first hurdle, but what's next? You need a clear action plan to really 'give yourself a push' off the sidelines and into the water.

1. First Aim to 'Float', Then for 'Perfect Form'

No one nails an Olympic swimmer's perfect form the first time they hit the water. Everyone starts by just learning not to sink.

It's the same deal with speaking English. Forget about flawless grammar or fancy vocabulary for now. Your one and only goal right now is this: make sure the other person understands what you're trying to say.

It's totally fine to use simple words, broken sentences, or even throw in some body language. The whole point of communication is to get your message across, not to win a grammar competition. Once you stop obsessing over 'saying it perfectly' and just focus on 'saying it clearly', you'll find that opening your mouth and having a go isn't actually that hard.

2. Find Your 'Swimming Pool'

You don't need to pack up and move overseas to find an English-speaking environment. These days, your phone is your best swimming pool.

The key is to switch English from being just another 'subject you study' to being part of your 'everyday life'.

• Swap out your go-to Chinese playlist for some English pop.
• When you're binging a show, try turning off the Chinese subtitles and flicking on the English ones.
• Change your phone's system language to English.

All these little things help create a mini 'English environment' for yourself.

If you want something a bit more direct, then find a tool that lets you really 'immerse yourself'. Back in the day, finding a language exchange partner who was keen to practise with you was a tough gig, but now, technology makes it a breeze. Apps like Intent let you chat directly with native speakers from all over the globe. The built-in AI real-time translation is like your personal coach, giving you a gentle nudge when you're stuck for words or can't quite figure out how to phrase something, helping you keep 'swimming' along.

The main thing is to create an environment for yourself where you're practically 'forced to speak English'.

3. Get Used to the Feeling of 'Copping a Mouthful'

When you're learning to swim, you're bound to swallow a bit of water. And when you're learning English, you're bound to make mistakes.

Treat every mistake like you've just 'copped a mouthful'. You might feel a bit choked or a bit embarrassed, but it also means you're getting used to the water. The real pros aren't the ones who never make mistakes; they're the ones who can quickly adjust after a slip-up and keep on pushing forward.

Next time you muck up, don't get down about it. Just have a laugh, tell yourself, "Well, bugger me, learned something new there," and then keep on yakking.

Stop Studying, Start Acting

Stop being a theorist stuck on the sidelines.

You've already got enough 'swimming knowledge' (all those words and grammar rules). What you're missing now is just the courage to jump in.

The language learning curve is never a smooth, straight line. It's more like flailing about in the water, sometimes making progress, sometimes swallowing a mouthful, but as long as you don't climb back out, you'll eventually be able to cruise comfortably to the other side.

So, from today, forget about 'learning' English, and start 'using' it instead.

The water's not actually that cold, mate.