8 Commonly Cited Language Learning Excuses And How To Beat Them

I'm not sure what the original source of these figures might be, but scientific accuracy aside these are by far the biggest 8 reasons I hear from struggling learners.

I want to address some of these "difficulties" and try to shed some light on how we can get around them and get back to making progress!

1. Keeping up the Motivation

It shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone at this point that motivation is absolutely key to learning a new language. If you don't want it, you're not going to get it.

2. Not Enough Money

I can't fully express just how much this one gets to me.

The illusion that you don't have enough money to learn a language is perpetuated by the notion that the only ways to do so involves expensive software, tuition for college level courses or the funds to travel and live abroad for an extended period of time.

This couldn't be farther from the truth.

3. Not Enough Time

This one is the absolute king of poor excuses.

 It is the most commonly cited reason given by those language learners who have tried and failed, or by those who have for years said that they'd like to learn a language, but never do. 

And enough is enough!

4. Bad Teachers

Unfortunately this one can't always be avoided - particularly if you're a student with little choice in the classes or teachers you're stuck with. Some teachers are just plain better than others. 

Again, sort of seems like a poor excuse to me. 

5. Bad Teaching Method

A lot of us have rough memories from high school Spanish or French classes. We wanted to be anywhere but there. Sitting in stuffy, hot classrooms reciting conjugations in rote. I certainly didn't enjoy Spanish. I didn't think I was very good at it, and I didn't like being told that I had to learn it.

6. Limited Or No Access to Learning Material.

If you want to pull this excuse you had better follow it up with the words "for studying Kivallirmiutut" or 

"Anambé". 

Yes - some languages are easier to find than others, but most aren't as hard as some make them out to be. I'm willing to bet that this is most likely another excuse employed by those who didn't put forth the effort to look beyond their doorstep.

Admittedly - if you want to study Portuguese you're not going to have a very hard time finding resources. If you want to study Pashto on the other hand, you may have to struggle a little more, but if you really want to learn you can't let this get in your way. 

7. No Access to Native Speakers.

Really? Now you're just not trying.

Furthermore, if you live anywhere near a major city, chances are the language you're looking for can be found there. Cities such as New York and London have an unfathomable amount of linguistic diversity and speakers that are probably looking to improve their English. 

It might cost you as much as a cup of coffee and a couple hours a week.

And you're probably buying that coffee anyway, right?

8. Too Ashamed to Speak

This one is pretty common as well, and it's not surprising. Like I said - it's scary enough talking to any new people, let alone in a language you're less familiar with. 

And the more you do it, the easier it gets. Just as with everything else.

Source: http://goo.gl/kHajUu