The BIGGEST Mistake Language Learners Make (Steve's Greatest Tips)

Language Learning Resources:

[АндрейБобренёв-эу]

What a relief to hear those words. I was kind of beating myself up over not learning enough from auch books.

[clairegittens]

I think people (and school classrooms) get onto this notion of understanding everything and the minute there is one word you don’t know in a sentence people freak out and deem themselves failures. For me, it is more useful to think that there will always be things I don’t understand. Then I can concentrate on “mastering” the basics and train myself to guess what the word that I don’t know means. And I won’t freak out every time there is an unknown or 3. After all, I don’t know every grammar rule or vocab word in my native language.

[jhonyermo]

OMG I do believe Steve is 100% correct. I have been in beginner mode for 5 years PLUS. I am going to listen to an expert. Thank you sir!
Just threw away a book this morning that I had barely look at. _Breaking Out of Beginner's Spanish_ by Joseph J. Keenan. I sure am glad I was able to fish it out of the dumpster in great shape. As the author asks in the introduction:
"How many weeks or months of speaking like a small, semi-literate child, can I stand"?
Again, thanks to Steve.

[NaturalLanguageLearning]

Lack of consistency is the main problem in my opinion. That's the key to improve at anything.

[hopperhelp]

I’d say Ikenna also said another I agree with. Don’t let others know.

Found out the hard way that’s an easy way for someone to try to derail you.

[kelmiswilsoncastaneda]

You are right Steve I could realize that I was improving when I left those basic materials of english that every single learner have, on top of that know I am intermediate.

[luigy]

Saludos desde Costa Rica Steve, thanks for the advice.

[athelling]

I agree with you in this regard to some extent, but I wouldn't place this onto the top of the list of the biggest mistakes. In the subject of mistakes in language learning, nothing could hold a candle to not creating yourself a native micro-environment of the language you study. People stay with learner material instead of discovering those consummate youtube channels out there, altering the algorithm of their youtube in order to see native content. Therefore, they remain at the stage of a learner for good. What I'd profoundly recommend other people to do would certainly be exploring content dedicated to the native speakers of its language. That's all.

[Aleksey_FE]

Exactly. As J. Woods said, "If you strive for the moon, maybe you'll get over the fence." The fence that separates kindergarten from real life.

[tofu]

Hi steve! I’m a 16 year old language learner and have been studying a new language for about 6 months now using only a beginner coursebook and this is a really great advice! But my question is what do you mean by “getting into real language”?

[stasiekkowalski]

Hi Steve
Thanks for all your tips and videos. In my case i am reading graded readers with fun and pleasure lets say something around B2 level. I've also tried few standard books but without succeed which means most of the words are unknown. Hiw to move from intermediate (upper) to fluency how to move further ? Does it mean that now i have start learning unknown words one by one ? Thanks in advance

[jasirasma]

I am speak Arabic but l want to speak English.

[qavi]

Biggest hurdles
Embark a new language

[nezbulkanal]

Exactly. We need to get rid of the artificial Mr. and Mrs. Brown Stories...

[jonasarnesen]

That's the very reason I don't care about beginner or not.
If I understand something I'll note it down and learn it so I also understand the words.
If I don't understand something like a phrase I'll still note it down but I won't learn it directly. Instead I'll go over and try to understand it whenever I've acquired new knowledge until I understand it.

[jamescook]

I disagree, Most students stay with the advanced material. They pretend to learn English by watching Netflix with subtitles. When you read or listen everything is in your imagination. When you watch Netflix, HBO or whatever you don't. Intermediate material before authentic is essential. Material that teaches linking words and not tons of vocabulary.

[ariohandoyo]

Yes sometimes we stuck on beginner books, we should challenge ourself to read quite difficult books i know easier said than done, i also stuck with Beginner materials.😔

[ritarose]

*The reality of the rich and the poor is this: The rich invest their money and spend what is left. The poor spend their money and invest what is left"*