Do you believe humans can learn languages naturally?
Or do you believe someone has to teach us languages?
I believe how you answer this question will predict if you will become fluent or stay stuck at intermediate.
Here’s the story of two students.
STUDENT #1
Melanie learned the basics in school.
Then she fell in love with American television and English theatre.
She travelled first to New York for sightseeing, then later to London to see plays.
When she came home, she met native speakers, they had lots to talk about, and she made friends.
Now she spends part of her free time having fun in English.
Whatever Melanie can do or wants to do in her native language, she can also do it in English.
The door is open.
STUDENT #2
Marta learned the basics in school.
After graduation, she signed up at a language school to learn advanced grammar.
Still not satisfied, she returned to get a certificate, and then another certificate.
Now working full-time, once a week she attends a free conversation class at her company with eight of her colleagues.
After work and at the weekend she spends all her free time using her native language.
One day a tourist asks her for directions. She’s too nervous to answer so she just points.
Her boss needs someone to travel to the Miami office for the winter. He chooses the newest team member who’s barely 22, Christina, because at least she’ll be able to talk to the clients at dinner.
The door is still closed.
If #2 sounds like you, well, then we need to talk. Let’s make a plan to quit classes forever, join the fluent speakers, and open the door to the world that speaks English.