2025

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Vital words for understanding

 

When you first start learning English, speaking can feel like climbing a mountain. It’s something that scares you, makes you sick at the mere thought of it. You’re afraid of making mistakes, your mind goes blank and it’s hard to say even the simplest thing. When it’s around other people, it’s a living nightmare.

But then something changes. You gather your strength and start practising. You speak more and more, and slowly it gets easier. Now you’re not so uncomfortable, suddenly a mistake doesn’t bother you. Suddenly you don’t get stuck on a word, you just find your way. And then – boom – you’re talking to someone and you can’t follow. You find yourself not understanding every word. What is it, you ask yourself. A new challenge: you realise that your listening isn’t keeping up.

Even though you’re speaking more confidently, you don’t understand every word when someone replies. You listen to podcasts and feel lost. What’s wrong?

It’s not a problem. It’s a sign of progress. The fact that you’re finding your listening skills are weaker is actually a good thing. It means that your awareness of language has improved, that you’re no longer concentrating on what you’re saying, but noticing how others are speaking. This is a natural way of learning. Speaking and listening develop at different rates and it’s common for one to fall behind at times.

What’s happening in your brain?

Speaking builds up procedural memory. That’s the part of the brain used for skills like riding a bike or playing the piano. If you practise speaking regularly, the language becomes more automatic. Mistakes are less frightening and real fluency grows.

Your brain is faster. To understand spoken English, you have to decode sounds quickly, recognise connected words (gonna, wanna), predict meaning in real time, and deal with different accents, speeds and even background noise. That’s a lot to do! If your brain hasn’t had enough listening practice, it simply hasn’t built strong enough pathways. And to produce speech, you have to consume it first.

There’s a complication – you’re probably trying to catch every word. A common mistake is to think that you have to understand 100% of what you hear. But even native speakers don’t catch everything. True listening is about getting the main idea, not every single word. Imagine talking to your friend, do you hang on every word?

What do you have to do to get through this stage without stress?

• Let go of perfection. You don’t have to understand every word. Concentrate on the main message and ask yourself Who’s talking? What’s the topic? What do they want?
• Use short audio and video clips. Listen once, write down what you understand. Then listen again, write down more details. Read the transcript and repeat the process.
• You can try shadowing. Listen and speak at the same time. Sing. It’s like going to the gym for your brain.
• Don’t just listen passively. Ask yourself: What are three words I heard? What does the speaker like?

Bottom line: if you feel like your hearing is limping, it’s a sign of growth. You’ve improved, and now your brain is ready for the next level. It takes time, but every podcast, every sentence, every attempt makes a difference.

 

Your listening challenge for the week: I will listen to a short podcast clip (under 2 minutes), write down 3 things I understand and shadow a sentence out loud.

Share your results in the comments or send them to me. You’ve got it!

Firstly, if you want to practise key vocabulary and read this article using the Duocards app (where you can tap on a word you don’t understand and it will show you the meaning), you need to join my email list. I will share these links there. Join here.

Vital words for understanding

 

I can understand you. I understand films, videos, even articles! But when it comes to speaking – I freeze.

Are you like that?

If so, you’re not alone. This is a common experience for English learners, even those who study regularly. You buy textbooks, take courses, study grammar rules and maybe even read novels in English. But when it’s time to speak, your brain goes blank. You struggle to find the right words and it feels like all your effort has been wasted.

But it isn’t. You’re just stuck in the passive knowledge trap.

What’s happening is simple: you’re taking in a huge amount of input – listening, reading, grammar explanations. This builds up passive knowledge, which means you understand the language. But if you don’t produce English on a regular basis – by speaking or writing – your active knowledge remains weak.

Imagine training for a marathon by watching only YouTube videos about running. You’d know the theory, but your legs wouldn’t carry you past the first mile.

What’s going on in the brain? Neuroscience gives us a clue.

• Comprehension (passive skills) uses different neural pathways than production (active skills). Understanding a word doesn’t mean your brain has the connections to retrieve and use it in real time.
• Speaking requires rapid access to vocabulary, grammar structures, pronunciation and social context – all at once. That’s procedural memory, built by doing, not studying.
• Your brain prioritises what it practises. When you’re just typing, your brain becomes good at decoding, not expressing.
• Under pressure (like speaking in real time), your prefrontal cortex (which handles decision-making and recall) can become overloaded – leading to a mental void.

But there’s good news: you can train your brain to speak more fluently.

Focus on topics, not grammar first
Instead of starting with rules, build mental islands of fluency around familiar topics like food, work, holidays. Create mind maps:

• start simple: I like pasta.
• build up: I like Italian pasta.
• extend: I like eating pasta in Italy with my friends when I’m on holiday.
  
  Now, when the topic of food comes up, your brain has ready-made sentences to use.

👉 Use this site for phrase ideas: Ozdic Collocations Dictionary

Speak to yourself – aloud

Yes, really. Talk to yourself while cooking, walking, or cleaning. Say what you’re doing or describe objects. This strengthens the brain’s speaking circuits and lowers your fear of making mistakes. The key is repetition + low pressure.

Shadowing technique

Listen to native speakers and repeat what they say at the same time, without pausing. This activates both your listening and speaking centres, and builds muscle memory in your mouth and brain. It’s like language karaoke for your brain so you can totally use music. 

Combine and create sentences
Once you learn a phrase like go for a walk, experiment:

• I go for a walk every day.
• My sister doesn’t go for a walk.
• Would you like to go for a walk later?
  
  This is how fluency grows: by using what you already know in new ways.

Record yourself speaking
Record yourself on your phone talking about your day or describing a photo. Then listen back and ask:

• Did I hesitate?
• Which words were missing?
• Can I say that better next time?

This builds awareness and confidence. 

You’re not bad at English. Your brain just hasn’t had enough output practice. Understanding is a fantastic first step – now it’s time to unlock your ability to speak. And remember: you don’t need perfect grammar to speak. You need courage, consistency, and conversation.

Your tiny speaking challenge:

👉 I will talk to myself about food for 3 minutes tonight while doing the dishes.

Write your version and share it with me in the comments. 

Firstly, if you want to practise key vocabulary and read this article using the Duocards app (where you can tap on a word you don’t understand and it will show you the meaning), you need to join my email list. I will share these links there. Join here.

Vital words for understanding

 

Have you ever noticed how often you get stuck while translating?

At the end of many of my sessions, we revisit new vocabulary or interesting phrases we used. Sometimes, a client will ask me for a Czech equivalent – and today, it happened to me. I could explain the word, its meaning, and how to use it in context, but I blanked on the Czech translation.

Interestingly, my clients often have the opposite problem – they can’t recall the English word. Why does this happen?

It’s because we’ve been trained to translate since the very beginning of our language learning journey. Remember those school vocabulary notebooks with two columns? English on the left, Czech on the right? The teacher would tell us to memorize a list and then test us. We thought we were learning a language. But in reality, we were only memorizing translations.

As a result, many learners reach a point where they constantly translate in their heads. First, they think of the sentence in Czech. Then, they translate it into English. Then (maybe), they say it aloud. That’s a lot of mental effort!

So – how can we break this habit?

The science behind translation

Let’s start with declarative memory – the part of the brain responsible for facts and rules, like vocabulary lists and grammar. Translation lives here. But fluent speakers rely on procedural memory – the kind used for skills like riding a bike or driving. It’s faster and automatic.

To stop translating, we need to shift English from declarative to procedural memory. Here’s how:

1. Listen to long podcasts (yes, long!)
When you start, your brain will try to translate everything. But as it gets tired, it can’t keep up – and that’s when the magic happens. Eventually, you’ll find yourself understanding without translating. You won’t catch every word, but you’ll get the gist – and that’s enough to grow.

Neuroscience shows that repeated exposure strengthens neural pathways. The more you hear a word in context, the more automatic it becomes.

2. Talk to yourself (really!)
You can’t just switch to thinking in English overnight, but you can train for it. Try describing what you see. Label objects. Narrate your actions. Most importantly – only use the English words you already know. If you don’t know the word, skip it. Don’t fill in with Czech.

This helps reduce mental switching, which tires out your prefrontal cortex – your brain’s decision-making center.

3. Try shadowing
Shadowing means repeating after native speakers without pausing. It’s like karaoke with speech. This technique trains pronunciation, intonation, and fluency — and it builds muscle memory in your mouth.

Think of it like playing the piano. My fingers remember the movements even when my brain is off – that’s procedural memory in action.

4. Learn new words visually
Instead of translating, try visualizing or even drawing new vocabulary. For example, don’t learn apple = jablko – picture a shiny red apple instead. This builds a direct link between English and meaning, bypassing Czech entirely.

This activates different areas of the brain and helps you build a separate English vocabulary bank.

5. Speak — even if it’s not perfect
Speaking puts your brain under real-time pressure, which forces it to stop translating. You can talk to friends, join a club, or even speak out loud while doing chores. The key is consistency. Studies using MRI show that when people become fluent, the brain processes the second language using the same areas as the native one. You’re literally rewiring your brain!

Bonus tip: Plan 

Just like I mentioned in my previous article – planning works. People who plan when and where they’ll do something are 2–3x more likely to stick with it.

Try this: I will practise thinking in English at 8:30 a.m. while walking to work.

Make English a habit — not a decision.

Stop trying to translate. Start learning to experience English the way native speakers do – through repeated exposure, speaking, and real-life use. You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to show up for your brain every day.

Firstly, if you want to practise key vocabulary and read this article using the Duocards app (where you can tap on a word you don’t understand and it will show you the meaning), you need to join my email list. I will share these links there. Join here.

Vital words for understanding

English: how to stick with it

How many times have you promised yourself that you’ll finally start learning English – only to give up after a week? This ties in nicely with my last article, where I talked about the problem of taking breaks in learning. You know that frustrating feeling: one step forward, two steps back. So today, let’s look at how to actually stick with English.

The problem with motivation
Most people rely on motivation. If you’re one of my clients, you probably remember me asking about yours during our first session. Maybe it’s work, travel, or just a feeling that I really should know English.

But here’s the truth: motivation is often too weak, too vague, and too unreliable. Unless you’re highly driven – or under pressure – it’s rarely enough to keep you going.

So what works better? A clear, specific goal.
Spoiler: To be able to speak English is not a real goal.

Why specific goals work
We all need goals to stay on track. But in my experience, it’s not just any goal – it’s the quality of the goal that makes the difference.
There’s a great study from the UK in 2001 that proves this. Researchers worked with 248 people who wanted to build an exercise habit over two weeks. They split them into three groups:

• Group 1: Tracked how often they exercised.
• Group 2: Did the same, and also read about the health benefits of exercise.
• Group 3: Got everything Group 2 did, plus they wrote a specific plan:
  During the next week, I will engage in at least 20 minutes of vigorous exercise on [day] at [time] in [place].

And the results?

Only 35–38% of people in Groups 1 and 2 exercised at least once a week. But in Group 3, a whopping 91% did.

The takeaway? People with a clear plan—specific time and place—are much more likely to follow through.

How I use this (and you can too)
I’m a planner. Seriously – you should see my calendar.
I run on Mondays and Thursdays at 6 pm. I do yoga on Tuesdays and Fridays at 2 pm. I play the piano for at least 10 minutes every weekday. I schedule my clients‘ sessions and send them invites – so the times are blocked in their calendars too.
They might not know why I do this (unless they’re reading this article!), but I do. I’m sending a message to my brain (and theirs):

I will [action] at [time] in [place].

This eliminates the need to think about it – it reduces something called decision fatigue. The more choices you have to make, the more likely you are to do… nothing.

Final thought
So, what’s the big takeaway?

Motivation fades. Systems and clarity win. If you want to build a real English habit, start with this sentence:

I will [action] at [time] in [place].

What’s one small English habit you could start tomorrow? Fill in the sentence – and if you like, share it with me. I’d love to hear what you come up with.

Firstly, if you want to practise key vocabulary and read this article using the Duocards app (where you can tap on a word you don’t understand and it will show you the meaning), you need to join my email list. I will share these links there. Join here.

Vital words for understanding

 

You start with the best of intentions. You’re motivated, you turn up, you do the work… and then life happens. A busy week. A holiday. A stressful project at work. You take a short break – harmless, right? But that short break becomes longer, and suddenly you’re back to square one. All over again. And again I’m going to give you some background. 

This is Emma. Emma is an adult in her mid-thirties who enjoys life, spending time with her husband and two dogs. She likes to travel and works as a key account manager for an IT company. She needs English for her job, but also for her personal life, as she wants to be able to communicate with her husband’s foreign friends, read books and watch films in English when she travels. She finds a private teacher and starts to work on her English. She has a lesson once a week, does her homework, sometimes listens to podcasts and watches films or series. Then she takes a break. One week, two weeks of nothing. She starts again, but then there is the summer holidays, so she decides to take a break from studying and starts again in September. And this happens again and again. One day, after about 2 years of trying, she feels that she is not making any progress. She thinks she doesn’t have the brain cells or the talent to learn English. She feels frustrated. 

Now. Can you relate? Can you imagine? Have you been there? Why do you think this happens?

Let me ask you a question: What do you think breaks do to your learning?

I will start with what happens in your brain when you study English regularly. I can link it to heavy lifting. Every time you hear, say or write an English word, your brain strengthens the synaptic connections between the neurons associated with that sound, meaning and usage. These connections are like trails in a forest. The more you walk them, the clearer and faster they become. 

Another thing that happens is that while you sleep, your brain moves new information from short-term memory to long-term memory. Especially if it’s repetitive or emotionally engaging (something fun). 

Studies also show that consistent language learning can increase grey matter density in areas associated with memory, attention and language. In particular, the hippocampus and Broca’s area. So your brain physically changes. 

When you take a break from learning, when you stop practising, there is something called the use-it-or-lose-it principle that kicks in. Without use, those beautiful neural pathways start to weaken. Especially newer ones that haven’t been strengthened enough. This is called synaptic pruning. Your brain prioritises what you use regularly. If you don’t touch English for a while, it replicates those resources elsewhere. Recall becomes slower – you may recognise words, but actively recalling them (in conversation, for example) becomes more difficult. The automaticity you have built up starts to wear off. 

So when you start again, it feels like you’re back to square one – not because you’re bad at languages or think you have no talent, but because the connections weren’t solid enough. 

How do you fix that? 

Smaller steps. More consistency. Less pressure. Instead of a weekly burst of effort, imagine if Emma:
– Spent just 10 minutes a day reviewing vocabulary or talking to herself
– Kept English in her ears while walking the dogs
– Had a light mode for holidays, no homework, just watching Netflix. 

Focus on progress, not perfection.

Emma (or you) doesn’t need more talent. She needs a system. There are some positives! Her brain hasn’t forgotten everything. Thanks to something called memory, the brain can rebuild those lost connections faster than the first time – like waking up dormant knowledge. Taking breaks weakens the signal, but doesn’t erase it. Short breaks can even help to consolidate, but long, passive ones without input can slow down your progress in fluency.

Or stop.

Firstly, if you want to practise key vocabulary and read this article using the Duocards app (where you can tap on a word you don’t understand and it will show you the meaning), you need to join my email list. I will share these links there. Join here.

Vital words for understanding

Haha, gotcha! Happy April Fool’s Day! 🎉 No, you can’t magically wake up fluent in English. And no, sleeping with an audiobook won’t make you fluent overnight. But – before you roll your eyes and move on – there is a way to use sleep to enhance your learning. Let’s break it down.

The myth: You can learn a language in your sleep. 

When I was at school, I used to stick my notes under my pillow, hoping that the knowledge would somehow seep into my brain overnight. (Spoiler alert: it never worked.) But where did this idea come from? Well, science has actually proven that the brain processes sound while you sleep.

A study in the journal Cerebral Cortex found that people who learned new words and then went to sleep remembered them better than those who stayed awake. Another study showed that listening to speech cues during sleep can help reinforce grammar patterns. Sounds cool, right? But here’s the rub: just listening passively won’t make you fluent. Sleep reinforces what you’ve already learned – it doesn’t teach you anything new. So how can you use this to your advantage?

What really works: 

• Review before bed. Read, listen to or review something in English before you go to sleep. Your brain will continue to work on it overnight.
• Use sleep-friendly listening. Play back familiar words, phrases or content you already know while you sleep. Repetition improves recall – but you might want to skip the horror stories. Trust me on this one.
• Try spaced repetition. Instead of cramming, review words or grammar points over several days. Science backs this up – it’s one of the most effective ways to retain information. (If you’re studying with me, you already know how useful a vocabulary file can be!) 
• Dream journaling in English. When you remember a dream, write it down in English when you wake up. It’s a great way to get into the habit of thinking in the language.
• Surround yourself with English every day. The more exposure you get during the day, the better your brain will process it at night. Simple as that.

So no, you won’t wake up fluent. But if you combine active learning + quality sleep, you’ll make real progress. Sweet dreams and happy learning! 😴📚💙

Firstly, if you want to practise key vocabulary and read this article using the Duocards app (where you can tap on a word you don’t understand and it will show you the meaning), you need to join my email list. I will share these links there. Join here.

Vital words for understanding

As the title suggests, let’s talk about perfectionism today. As a perfectionist myself – at least in some areas – I understand where you’re coming from.

• I’ll travel when I learn basic structures.
• I’ll apply for the job once I’m fluent.
• I’ll start learning English when my kids grow up.
  

These are just some of the excuses I’ve heard from clients recently. But let’s simplify it:

🛑 I’ll start … when I … 🛑

By repeating this to yourself, you’re building psychological barriers that delay your progress. The truth is, waiting for the “right” time often means waiting forever – because there’s never a perfect moment to start anything.

The habit of delay

The more we postpone, the easier it is to keep postponing. Can you see the connection? The more you speak, the easier English gets. But when we delay, we do it for a reason. In my experience, these reasons often come down to:

• Fear of failure
• Fear of stepping out of our comfort zone
• Lack of confidence

It’s heartbreaking to see this in people who are otherwise incredibly strong and capable. In fact, those who struggle the most with these fears are often the ones who inspire me the most.

A few truths about learning

→ You’ll never feel 100% ready. And that’s okay.
→ Learning happens through action. Think back to childhood – how did you learn that fire burns or that lying has consequences? By doing, trying, and discovering through experience. Language learning works the same way.

Where to start?

• Start small. Even simple thoughts like I like this coffee or My boss is a jerk count.
• Talk to an AI chatbot. No pressure, no judgment – just you and the machine.
• Set mini-goals. Try reading something easy today – newsinlevels.com is a great place to start.
• Make learning fun. Play an English memory game (pexeso).
• Use music. Listen to an English song and check the lyrics (karaoketexty.cz).
• Find a teacher on YouTube. Choose one you enjoy learning from and stick with them.

or – find a private teacher

We often get trapped in a cycle:
➡ I’ll start when I’m ready → I try now → I don’t see progress → I feel stuck → I stop → I’ll start when I’m ready… again.

Sound familiar? This loop can lead to overthinking, overdoing, and eventually, burnout. You don’t have to do it alone. A teacher provides structure, guidance, and accountability – helping you move forward even when you don’t feel ready.

Loosen your need for control. Embrace imperfection. Trust the process. Because progress doesn’t come from waiting. It comes from doing.

Firstly, if you want to practise key vocabulary and read this article using the Duocards app (where you can tap on a word you don’t understand and it will show you the meaning), you need to join my email list. I will share these links there. You can join here.

Vital words for understanding

„I apologise for my English.“

This single sentence made me stop and reflect.

You’re probably well aware of the political turmoil in the world right now. I follow it, but I hesitated to write about it. That’s why I went two weeks without publishing anything. I was searching for a different topic—something about English learning. But then I thought: I can’t not talk about this.

I’ll try to stay neutral. Those who know me already understand where I stand, and frankly, I have no need to justify my views. So let’s return to that opening sentence: I apologize for my English.

When I heard it, it broke my heart. Not because of my work, my message, or my teaching. But because I know how painful, frustrating, and exhausting it is to feel the need to say those words.

And you know what frustrates me the most? The people who say this are the ones who shouldn’t feel this way at all.Speaking a foreign language is not embarrassing. It’s not weird, stupid, or laughable. It’s badass. It’s brave. It’s cool.

So where does this self-doubt come from? Why do language learners feel the need to apologize? Why are they so critical of themselves?
Is it society? The school system? Family? I honestly don’t know, and I’d love to hear your thoughts.

What I do know is this:
The people who should be ashamed of themselves often have the most confidence. The truly ignorant are the loudest.

And you can see this everywhere – even in places that are supposed to represent intelligence, class, and diplomacy.

Take, for example, a certain recent political event. Watching it from a professional perspective, as a language teacher, was mind-blowing. In a conversation between native and non-native speakers, how is it possible that the foreigner spoke English more clearly than the native speakers? Because language isn’t just about how you sound – it’s about what you say.

One side communicated in a foreign language. The other two? Native speakers. And yet, they resorted to yelling at someone who might not have had the same vocabulary, who might not have fully understood their accent. Come on.

And this, right here, is what’s wrong with society.

English learners work hard every single day to understand and be understood. That is the power of language. And if someone’s English is stronger, the right thing to do is help the other person understand you. That’s the whole reason we learn languages – to communicate.

So what does it say about people who enjoy making others feel lost and inferior?

I’ll let you decide.

If you’re reading this, thank you for sticking around. I just want to add a few words of encouragement because I know the message was quite heavy.

The good people – the ones who truly matter – will treat you with kindness and respect, no matter how many mistakes you make. Please don’t let negativity or ignorance discourage you, and never let it make you give up.

Yes, there will always be someone who tries to bring you down. But you? You just need to stay patient, stay strong, and keep going.

And remember – I’m always in your corner! 💙

Firstly, if you want to practise key vocabulary and read this article using the Duocards app (where you can tap on a word you don’t understand and it will show you the meaning), you need to join my email list. I will share these links there. You can join here.

Vital words for understanding

 

I was not sure what to write about today until I had an idea – maybe a chatbot can help me feel better. 

I am having one of the happiest, but also one of the most intense times. Some days there are things I cannot get out of my head and I keep overthinking. 

So today, when I was thinking about the same stupid situation for the millionth time, I decided to try a chatbot. I prefer to use ChatGPT, I have the app in all my devices. I had already tried this feature a year ago to get my piano basics down. Since then I have heard that it can also help you on the mental side of things. It can help you with everything from emotional support to learning English. I think that’s what we’re most interested in. Let’s take a closer look. 

First of all, here are some tips on how to learn with a chatbot

It’s good conversation practice that you can do every day. It can definitely improve your fluency faster than weekly sessions with a person. You can also simulate real-life situations (like ordering food, small talk, or job interviews) and even role-play these situations. Easy to give instructions – and when I say easy, I still realize that giving clear instructions is one of the hardest things to do. 

This chatbot can explain grammar rules, give you examples, synonyms, antonyms, even word nuances. You can also ask it to provide you with vocabulary lists for different types of English. 

You can also work on your pronunciation. When you type a sentence and ask the chatbot for the correct pronunciation, you can see the sounds. A great thing I use with my clients is the speech–to–text tool. This is very useful for you to practice and check if the chatbot understands what you mean (for example, one thing you can try right away: ship vs. sheep). These are called minimal pairs (words that differ in a sound but mean different things). 

It can even help you write. If you provide text, the chatbot can tell you where you make mistakes and help you correct them. You can even practice formal and informal writing. 

Another great asset is reading – you can generate comprehension questions based on a text you provide, you can discuss books and articles. You can even debate on various topics. 

It all comes down to one thing – instructions. Effective instructions. 

Some advantages of learning English with a chatbot: 

• It’s always available. Now you have no excuses, it only takes a second to open the app. 
• The chatbot does not judge you, so you can feel more comfortable making mistakes. I have to say here that any decent teacher will not judge you either and will be more supportive of you making mistakes than just producing correct language.  
• It can be very personalized, so you only learn the things you want to learn. It doesn’t push you anywhere else. 
• Of course, one of the advantages is that it’s a lot cheaper than having an experienced teacher. I think it’s about $20 a month. 
• And the revision can be more effective because you’re only revising what you’ve already done. 

Now for some cons:

• A chatbot can’t really replace the social interaction that we as humans generally need. 
• Speech practice is limited for now. If you don’t use voice input, there’s no conversation. So you miss out on real speaking practice. 
• It’s really nice for pronunciation, but it can’t give you realistic feedback. I tried it by mispronouncing the word „neuroscience“ and the chatbot apologized and said it’s sorry and I should try again later. Let me know if it worked for you. 
• You can get to the point, you are relying too much on the AI. It’s still a bot, and you’re missing out on real-world practice with other people. 
• Communication generally involves body language. That’s something you can only get from other people. 

There are some other things that just come to mind as I write. For example, I can see the positive impact on the neuroplasticity of our brains, because the more we engage with a language, the stronger our neural connections are. So daily conversations with chatbots would reinforce language patterns and vocabulary. Also, revision could be more effective because we could instruct the chatbot to follow our learning processes and design the best spatial repetition for us. Revision strengthens memory. 

Hormones play a significant role in how we use technology, so why not use it to our advantage? We can use the bot to make our learning interactive, for example to solve problems. This releases dopamine, and quick feedback makes learning more rewarding. In short, we can get addicted to learning. 

There is something called explicit and implicit learning. But I don’t think that’s an advantage of a chatbot. This is a principle I like to teach about: 

• Implicit learning is learning like a child. When you chat with me (as a teacher) in full sentences, you automatically reinforce patterns – like when you hear I’ve been there many times, you start using it correctly without thinking about the rule. It’s unconscious learning done through conversation, not worrying about mistakes, and focusing on understanding meaning rather than grammar rules. 
• Explicit learning is the adult way of learning. We ask for grammar explanations, study example sentences, analyze our mistakes, and keep our learning structured. 

The best way, you ask? Do both. 

I cannot help but think of one last thing here. For many, translation is a fact of life. It’s a cognitive load, which is how much information your brain can process at one time. Translation overloads our working memory and makes it harder to speak fluently. If you think in Czech, then translate into English, then speak, that’s three steps instead of one!

How to break this habit:

• Start by forming simple thoughts and using short, direct sentences. 
• You can practice recognizing complete English expressions. 
• Use chunks or phrases as units (let me think, it depends) so that you are not constructing each sentence from scratch.
• Think is pictures! That’s the best one. Instead of mentally translating, imagine, visualize (a dog for example). 

Oops, this is longer than I thought. Let me know what you think in the comments section below, or if you have any questions, I’m here to answer them.  Bottom line: I may be shooting myself in the foot, but I think using chatbots can be beneficial to your learning journey. So stop being afraid and just give it a try.