You're Not Bad at English, You Just Never 'Jumped In' to Swim

Don't you find it strange?

We've studied English for almost a decade, from middle school right up to university. We've bought vocabulary book after vocabulary book, and know grammar rules inside out. Yet, why is it that when we meet a foreigner, our mind still goes blank, and we stumble even on a simple "How are you?"

We've all fallen into a huge misconception, believing that learning English is like preparing for a history exam – simply memorise the textbook, and you'll score well.

But today, I want to tell you a harsh yet liberating truth: learning English has never been about 'studying books', it's about 'learning to swim'.

You'll Never Learn to Swim by Standing on the Shore

Imagine you want to learn to swim.

You buy every book on swimming available in the market, you study every single breakdown of freestyle and breaststroke, you can even write down the formula for water buoyancy from memory. You become an expert in swimming theory.

Then, someone pushes you into the water. What would happen?

You'd just flail around, swallowing mouthfuls of water, and then realise that all the knowledge you've read is absolutely useless in the water. This is precisely our predicament when it comes to learning English. We are all 'swimming theorists' standing on the shore. We spend countless hours 'researching' English, but rarely truly 'jump into the water' to use it.

Those who are fluent in English are not smarter than you, nor more talented. They only have one thing in common: they've already jumped into the water, and they're not afraid to swallow some.

They understand that language is not a subject to be 'memorised', but a skill for 'communication'. Just like swimming or riding a bicycle, the only secret is – get in the water and use it.

How to Go From 'Standing on the Shore' to 'Being in the Water'?

Changing your mindset is the first step, but what next? You need a clear action plan to 'push' yourself from the shore into the water.

1. First Aim to Float, Then Focus on Form

Nobody can swim with an Olympic athlete's perfect form the first time they get into the water. Everyone first learns how to keep themselves from sinking.

Speaking English is the same. Forget about perfect grammar and advanced vocabulary. Your only goal right now is: to make the other person understand your meaning.

It's perfectly fine to use simple words, broken sentences, or even body language. The essence of communication is conveying a message, not winning a grammar competition. When you stop obsessing over 'saying it perfectly' and focus on 'saying it clearly', you'll find that speaking up isn't that difficult after all.

2. Find Your 'Swimming Pool'

You don't need to move abroad to find an English-speaking environment. Today, your phone is your best swimming pool.

The key is to transform English from a 'subject of study' into a 'daily routine'.

• Replace your favourite Chinese playlist with English pop songs.
• For the shows you follow, try turning off Chinese subtitles and turning on English subtitles.
• Change your phone's system language to English.

These are all ways to create a micro 'English environment'.

If you want something more direct, find a tool that lets you 'immerse yourself in the water.' In the past, finding a language partner willing to practice with you was difficult, but now technology has made everything easier. Chat apps like Intent allow you to directly communicate with native speakers worldwide. The built-in AI real-time translation acts like your personal coach, gently nudging you when you're stuck for words or can't think of how to say something, helping you to 'swim' smoothly along.

The main point is to create an environment where it's 'imperative to speak English'.

3. Get Used to the Feeling of 'Swallowing Water'

When learning to swim, it's impossible not to swallow water. When learning English, it's impossible not to make mistakes.

Treat every mistake as 'swallowing a mouthful of water.' You might feel a bit choked, a bit embarrassed, but this also means you're learning to adapt to the water. True experts aren't those who never make mistakes, but those who can immediately adjust after making one and keep moving forward.

Next time you say something wrong, don't get disheartened. Just smile and tell yourself: "Hmm, learned something new again." And then, keep speaking.

Stop Studying, Start Doing

Stop being a theorist on the shore.

You already possess enough 'swimming knowledge' (vocabulary, grammar); what you lack now is simply the courage to jump into the water.

The learning curve for language is never a smooth, straight line. It's more like floundering in the water, sometimes making progress, sometimes swallowing water, but as long as you don't climb back onto the shore, you will eventually be able to swim effortlessly to the other side.

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

The water, after all, isn't that cold.