Stop Obsessing Over "Fluency" – Your Understanding of Language Learning Might Be Wrong From the Start

Do you feel the same way?

You've mugged up three thousand words, your phone's packed with learning apps, but when you meet a foreign friend, all you can manage is "Hello, how are you?" You start questioning your life's choices: What exactly does "fluency" even mean? This elusive goal feels like a huge mountain, suffocating you.

We often feel as if learning a foreign language is like taking a long, drawn-out exam, and "fluency" is scoring full marks on it. But today, I want to tell you: this entire notion is fundamentally flawed.

Forget the exams. Learning a language is, in fact, more akin to learning how to cook.

View Language as Cooking, and Everything Clicks

Imagine a novice chef whose goal is to become a Michelin chef. If all he does is one thing – furiously mugging up recipes, memorising the names and characteristics of thousands of ingredients by heart – would he be able to whip up a delicious meal?

Of course not.

He might stare blankly at a pile of premium ingredients (the words you've memorised), clueless about how to heat the pan, how to combine them, ultimately serving up a 'culinary disaster' that no one can stomach.

Isn't this precisely our current situation with foreign language learning? We're obsessed with 'how many ingredients we've memorised,' rather than 'how many signature dishes we can actually create.'

"'Fluency' isn't about how many words you know; it's about whether you can use the words you already possess to prepare a 'decent meal' – in other words, to achieve effective communication.

Three Myths About "Fluency" – Like Three Useless Recipes

Once you adopt the 'cooking' mindset to view language, many long-standing dilemmas that have troubled you suddenly become crystal clear.

1. Myth One: Vocabulary = Fluency?

Someone once concluded I was 'not fluent' just because I forgot an uncommon word during a conversation.

This is as ridiculous as saying a Sichuan master chef isn't a good chef merely because he doesn't know how to prepare French escargot.

A true culinary master doesn't aim to know every ingredient in the world; rather, they can create amazing flavours using common ingredients readily available. Similarly, the hallmark of a language expert isn't knowing every single word in the dictionary, but rather the ability to skillfully use the vocabulary they already command to express their thoughts clearly and effortlessly.

2. Myth Two: Is "Fluency" an All-or-Nothing Finish Line?

We always assume language proficiency exists in only two states: 'fluent' or 'not fluent'.

This is like categorising chefs solely as 'culinary gods' or 'kitchen novices'. But the truth is, does someone who can only make a simple tomato and egg scramble count as knowing how to cook? Absolutely! They've already sorted out their lunch.

It's the same with your language proficiency. Today, if you can successfully order a cup of coffee in a foreign language, you've achieved 'coffee-ordering fluency'. Tomorrow, if you can chat about a movie with a friend, you've achieved 'movie-discussion fluency'.

"'Fluency' isn't some distant finish line; it's a dynamic, ever-expanding spectrum. Your goal shouldn't be to 'become a Michelin chef,' but rather, 'Which dish do I want to learn to cook today?'"

3. Myth Three: Are Native Speakers "Perfectly Fluent"?

Ask your friends around you: do they know every single idiom in their native language? Do they know the meaning of words like 'bòhuà', 'kěnqìng', 'chuòlì'?

More often than not, they wouldn't.

According to statistics, the vocabulary a native speaker masters in their lifetime typically only accounts for 10-20% of their native language's total vocabulary. Yes, if there were a 'grand exam' on our native language, every single one of us would fail.

Native speakers are 'fluent' not because they're omniscient, but because they use language effortlessly and naturally within their familiar spheres of life and work. They are experts in their specific 'culinary domain', not all-knowing food gods.

Stop Chasing Phantoms, Start Real 'Cooking'

So, stop asking, 'How can I become fluent?'

You should ask yourself a more specific, powerful question instead: "What do I want to achieve with a foreign language today?"

Do you want to chat about your hometown with a new foreign friend? Or understand an article about your idol? Or perhaps conduct a short meeting with a client?

Break down that elusive mountain of 'fluency' into manageable 'mini-recipes' that you can actively work on. Each time you complete one, your confidence and capability will grow.

The essence of learning isn't 'input'; it's 'creation'. The best way to learn is to directly step into the 'kitchen' and get your hands dirty.

Of course, fumbling around in a kitchen by yourself can feel a bit lonely and helpless, especially when you can't find the right 'ingredients' (words) or aren't sure about the 'cooking steps' (grammar).

That's when a good tool comes in handy, like a sous chef always on standby. For instance, the chat app Intent has a built-in AI translation feature that acts like your 'smart recipe guide'. When you're stuck for words, it can instantly help you find the most authentic expression, enabling seamless communication with friends across the globe. It creates a real-world kitchen environment for you, empowering you to boldly 'cook up' every conversation through practice.

True growth stems from every genuine interaction, every successful 'dish served'.

From today, let go of that vague, elusive term, 'fluency'.

Focus on 'that dish' you want to prepare today, and savour the joy of creating connections through language. You'll find that when you stop chasing the view from the mountaintop, you're already amidst the beauty of the journey.