You've Studied English for 10 Years, So Why Are You Still Tongue-Tied?

Many of us share a common frustration:

We've spent over a decade learning English, boast an impressive vocabulary, and know grammar rules inside out. Yet, when we meet a native speaker and want to strike up a conversation, our minds go blank. We feel flustered, our faces flush red, and all we can manage is an awkward "Hello, how are you?"

Why, despite investing so much time and effort, are we still 'silent' English learners?

The problem isn't a lack of effort; it's that we've been heading in the wrong direction from the very beginning.

Learning a Language Is More Like Cooking Than Memorising Textbooks

Imagine you want to learn how to cook.

You buy a stack of gourmet cookbooks, memorising "The Art of Cooking" and "Introduction to Molecular Gastronomy" cover to cover. You spend eight hours a day watching every cooking show imaginable, from simple home-cooked meals to Michelin-starred feasts. You know the steps, cooking times, and ingredients for every dish inside out.

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

Of course not. Because you're merely a 'food critic', not a 'chef'. Your head is overflowing with theory, but you've never actually stepped into a kitchen or picked up a spatula.

Learning a language is no different.

Most of us fall into the trap of becoming 'language critics'. We frantically memorise vocabulary (like ingredients from a recipe), pore over grammar books (studying culinary theory), and binge-watch listening exercises (watching cooking shows). We convince ourselves that if we just consume enough, and understand enough, one day the words will naturally flow.

But this is precisely the biggest misconception. Understanding doesn't equate to speaking. Just as reading a recipe doesn't mean you can cook.

'Speaking' and 'writing' are the act of 'doing' – they are 'output'; whereas 'listening' and 'reading' are like reading a cookbook – they are 'input'. If you only watch and never do, you'll forever remain 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-tier Sichuanese chef who moves abroad and for twenty years only cooks pasta and pizza. When they return to Chengdu and try to whip up an authentic plate of Twice-Cooked Pork, do you think their skills will be as refined as they once were?

Most likely not. They might forget the precise proportions of certain spices, or their intuition for cooking temperatures might have 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 spoken Chinese, and even taking ages to articulate a simple thought.

So, don't take your native language for granted. It also requires nurturing, practice, and refinement, just like a foreign language.

Aim to Be a 'Home Cook', Not a 'Gourmet Critic'

Many people feel daunted by language learning, as it often seems like an endless journey. You might learn 'hello' today, but tomorrow there are thousands of new words and usages waiting.

Don't be afraid. Let's return to our cooking analogy.

Learning to cook a simple dish like scrambled eggs with tomato will solve your basic hunger needs. This is akin to mastering basic conversational skills that allow for daily communication. Progress at this stage is incredibly fast.

Whereas mastering a complex dish like 'Buddha Jumps Over the Wall' is merely the icing on the cake. It's impressive, but it doesn't impact your ability to eat every day. This is comparable to learning advanced vocabulary and rare idioms: they can make your expression more elegant, but they offer diminishing returns on improving your core communication skills.

Therefore, our goal shouldn't be to become 'culinary theoreticians' who know every cuisine, but rather 'home cooks' who can confidently whip up a few reliable dishes. Fluency in communication is far more important than perfectly mastering every single detail.

Enough With the Cookbooks – Get Into the Kitchen!

So, here's the real challenge: if you've never actually spoken, how do you begin?

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

Don't wait until you 'feel ready'. You never will be. Just like learning to cook, your first dish might well be burnt, but that's an essential part of becoming a chef.

What you need isn't more theory, but a 'kitchen' where you can confidently 'mess up' without fear of being laughed at.

In the past, this was difficult. You needed to find a patient language partner or pay for a foreign tutor. But now, technology offers us an excellent practice arena.

Chat apps like Intent are like a global kitchen, open just for you. You can connect with people from all over the world anytime, anywhere, and practise your 'cooking skills'. The best part is its built-in AI real-time translation. When you get stuck or can't remember a specific word (an ingredient), it's like having a master chef by your side, ready to prompt you. Here, you can confidently make mistakes, because every error is a step towards improvement.

Head over to Intent now and start your first 'cooking' session.

Stop being content with just being an observer.

The world, with its rich banquet, is waiting for you to speak up and taste it.