Inside a teacher’s head: WHAT I WISH YOU KNEW

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Vital words for understanding

What I wish you knew

Today, after wrapping up the last session and giving the last homework, I just sat there. I just sat there and thought for a bit.

You see me with a notebook and a plan. You hear my voice asking questions, correcting gently, encouraging you to try. But there are things I’ve never said — not because I didn’t want to, but because I wasn’t sure you needed to know. Until now.

There are so many things you, my clients, don’t see.

I don’t just teach English. I read the room. I read you. I adapt. I prepare three versions of the same task — just in case. I test the atmosphere the very moment you log in, watch how you say “hello,” the expression in your eyes, how quickly or slowly you respond. I try to catch the tiniest signals to understand where you are that day, so I can meet you there.

If you’re just a little bit off, I see it. And then I ask myself: how much can I push today? Pushing is part of progress — I truly believe that. But push too much, and something breaks. Push too little, and we don’t move. I walk this invisible line every day. I don’t always get it right — but I care enough to keep adjusting, lesson by lesson, person by person.

Every session is different. And I’m not just talking about content — yes, of course, each of you brings different goals and interests. But what changes most is the emotional temperature of the room. I spend a lot of energy thinking in context — what kind of questions can I ask? What’s safe, what’s too much, and what’s actually not enough for someone who needs deeper connection?

Sometimes I feel like I’m doing therapy more than teaching. And no, I’m not a therapist — but if what we do helps you open up, speak, express, reflect, then yes, it is learning. Language doesn’t live in grammar books. It lives in real talk. Real emotions. Real stories. And still, many of you are nervous. Nervous about what I think.

Let me tell you: I don’t think anything.
I listen. I observe. I notice. I admire. I do not judge.

I see your courage, not your commas. I see your willingness to show up, to try, to laugh at a joke in English — sometimes for the first time. And that makes my day. I remember when you told me you were nervous before a session. I remember when you avoided speaking in the beginning. And I notice when you suddenly start talking without stopping. I notice when a mistake doesn’t stop you anymore.

You always focus on what you can’t do.
I see what you can. 

I see fluency in your growing confidence — not just in how fast you speak. I hear better, deeper questions. I hear you choosing words more mindfully. I see you noticing things you wouldn’t have a month ago. Yes, maybe you’re missing a word — but you’re using ten others without effort. That’s progress.

And while I’m noticing all of this in you, I’m learning too.

My own learning path is long. Ongoing. Probably never-ending. I learn from every lesson. From you. From myself. I read. I explore. I reflect. I make mistakes — yes, even after all these years. I rewrite lessons that didn’t land. I search for new ways to explain something I’ve explained a hundred times. I experiment. I mess up. I learn. Just like you. Because I believe that if I want you to grow, I have to grow too.

So when you hesitate next time, please know this: Your teacher isn’t waiting for perfection.
Just for you — to try, to speak, to trust the process.

I’m in your corner. Every single step of the way.

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

This week I hit pause on writing tips, because I was working on something close to my heart: my DELTA application.

As part of the process, I had to reflect on how my teaching has evolved since I started. It felt like writing a letter to myself—from the teacher I was, to the teacher I’ve become.

 

I started teaching English in 2018 after returning from Canada, initially as a part-time job while completing my Master’s degree in a different field. At that time, I held a CAE certificate and no formal teaching experience. I joined a local language school, where I quickly realised that every student comes with unique needs, goals, and learning preferences into the classroom. This awareness shaped the way I approach teaching. 

In the beginning, I taught a wide range of learners, from young children to adults. Over time, however, I found myself increasingly drawn to working with adults. I particularly enjoyed helping those who felt stuck – those who had been studying for years but still lacked the confidence or ability to use English effectively.  I discovered that I am good at encouraging people.

My passion for teaching grew quickly. Although I graduated, I never returned to my original field of study. I soon realised I needed a stronger foundation in methodology and practical classroom skills, which led me to the CELTA course. CELTA was a major breakthrough moment for me. Since then, I’ve had the privilege of working with learners from across Europe, both in groups ad individually.

Over time, my perspective shifted. Students became learners. Learners became clients. Today, I specialise in working with adult professionals who need English for their work and career. My main focus is on teaching English to directors, managers, and professionals in the fields of IT and business. Many come to me not only for language support but also for clarity, structure, and confidence in using English in their daily work lives. 

What I find most rewarding about this work is the ability to support my clients not just in their language development, but in their broader professional and personal growth. Many of them are at key moments in their lives – preparing for international projects, switching careers, relocating abroad, or stepping into leadership roles – and they rely on English to help them succeed. They may lack confidence in speaking, avoid situations where they have to use English, or feel anxious before meetings or presentations. My role is not only to help them communicate more effectively, but also to give them clarity, confidence, and tools they need to take those next steps. I support them in building habits, understand their own learning process, and developing the confidence to move forward.

I take an individualised, mentoring-based approach. I believe that language learning should be relevant, meaningful, and directly connected to the learner’s goals. My approach is eclectic: rooted in Communicative Language Teaching, with a strong focus on interaction and real-life communication. I also incorporate elements of Task-Based Learning, using real-world tasks to simulate authentic language use. Flexibility is key.

I rarely follow coursebooks. Instead, I design lessons based on what each client needs, using authentic materials – such as articles, podcasts, videos, or real-life documents – and tailor everything to fit the context and needs of the person in front of me. My sessions often blend conversation, feedback, and skill-building, with space for structured tasks and follow-up reflections. I give regular, actionable feedback to help clients stay engaged between sessions. 

I also integrate language mentoring with habit-building strategies to support long-term progress. One thing I’ve learned over the years is that progress is never linear. Some learners need more time, more reassurance, and more space to make mistakes and try again. Creating a supportive, low-pressure environment is essential. That’s why I also run small group speaking sessions – informal, friendly spaces where my clients can socialise, practise fluency, and push themselves out of their comfort zones in a safe way. 

Ultimately, I aim to create a space where clients feel safe enough to take risks and make mistakes. I want them to know that their learning journey matters, and that their progress is valid – even if it looks different from someone else’s. Supporting people on that journey is the most rewarding part of my job.

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

 

After spending two weeks in the company of a Canadian, one thing struck me again and again — and it left me speechless every time. Learners, even those who’ve made visible progress, freeze the moment a native speaker enters the room. Or, at the very least, they feel deeply uncomfortable. Why is that? What is it that makes us shrink in these moments? What are we so afraid of?

It’s not because they’re unprepared. It’s not because their English is poor. It’s because something much deeper is at play: the internalised belief that native speakers are the ‘real’ judges of English. And that if we speak with mistakes in front of them, we’ll be exposed — as if our effort counts for less in that moment.

But let’s pause here and ask a simple question: why do we feel that way? Here’s the thing: most native speakers don’t speak any other language. Many have never had to grapple with verb forms, word order, idioms. They don’t know what it’s like to build a sentence from scratch under pressure. They’ve never sat in your chair.  They’ve never had to. And yet, it’s you who ends up feeling ashamed.

I’ll tell you what I think: every person who dares to express themselves in a foreign language is brave. You’re not just learning new words. You’re learning to think differently, to decode social rules in another culture, to navigate meaning while your brain is still translating. That deserves admiration — not silence, not withdrawal, and certainly not correction from the sidelines.

And here’s where I need to be honest about something that still makes me angry.

Many of us grew up in a school system that punished imperfection. You were taught that mistakes were embarrassing. That getting it wrong meant you were wrong. And so you began to hide. You learned that silence was safer than risk.

What breaks my heart is that even today — even in the age of communicative language teaching — I still see people, even teachers, correct others harshly. I’ve watched relatives correct a loved one’s English at the dinner table. I’ve seen a student’s confidence disappear in front of me because someone thought a sarcastic joke about their grammar was harmless.

Why do we do this to each other?
Why is being „right“ more important than being kind?

As a teacher, I’ve made a different decision. I don’t jump in. I don’t finish sentences. I don’t rush to offer the word someone’s searching for. I give space. And that space isn’t empty — it’s powerful. It says: I trust you to get there.

And guess what? They do.

They search. They struggle. And then, slowly, they speak. Not because I saved them — but because I let them try.

Sometimes I quietly step away from the conversation, letting them manage it on their own. I become invisible. And in that invisibility, they shine.

We learn through trial, not perfection. We learn by speaking before we feel ready. The best support I can give isn’t more grammar explanations — it’s belief. A calm, steady presence. A refusal to panic on their behalf. A quiet voice that says: You’ve got this. You’re doing the hard thing. And I see you.

So if you, like many, still hesitate when a native speaker is near — remember this:

You are not less. 
You are not wrong.
You are learning.

And in my eyes, that makes you the strongest voice in the room.

 

→ Quick Task for Today
Talk to yourself in English for 2 minutes.
Pick one simple topic — your morning, your lunch, a walk you took, or a memory you love.
Don’t aim for perfect grammar. Just speak. Let the words come.
(And if you forget a word? Use another. Keep going.)

Bonus: Record yourself. Listen back with kindness. Notice how much you can say.

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’ve been studying English for a while. You watch videos, you read, you write down words, you even use flashcards, vocabulary apps – but when it comes to speaking or writing, your brain goes blank. You just don’t have any words. It feels like your vocabulary isn’t growing, you’re losing words, you can’t even remember the easy ones – or the ones you think you should. It’s frustrating, but let’s unpack it.

First of all, you need to get the ‘I should know this’ bullshit out of your head. There’s no such thing in language learning, it’s just a remnant of our rotten language education system.

Most learners believe that if they write new words and review them, vocabulary will magically stick. But the truth is that your brain doesn’t remember what it doesn’t use. If you only see or write the word, that’s passive memory. Passive memory is weak and fades quickly if it’s not activated by real use.

Why is it so difficult to grow vocabulary?

Firstly, words without context are forgettable. Our brains are designed to remember stories and connections, not isolated facts. The problem is also that you only have passive input – listening and reading alone won’t do the job. Without using the word, it remains hidden. Some learners also tend to avoid using difficult words. In conversation, we panic and choose the easiest option. The new words then never get out of storage. Finally, vocabulary doesn’t grow with repetition. Flashcards and word lists aren’t bad, but vocabulary grows with use.

What really works? Hard work.

• Connect words to your life. Your brain remembers what feels real. Make emotional, personal or visual connections. Use pictures, drawings or make up your own stories. Instead of learning the word apple and its translations, think: I always buy apples on Fridays. My MacBook is Apple and I have an Apple mobile phone.
• Don’t stop at one example, use the word in 3 different sentences. You can recycle new words in different contexts. This kind of repetition builds stronger memory pathways. Take the word challenge:
  • I like challenges.
  • This article is a big challenge for me.
  • Learning English is a challenge, but a fun one.
• You have to speak, even if you’re alone. Say the words out loud. Record yourself. Teach it to someone. Talk to your pet. Saying a word activates different parts of your brain – especially the motor cortex and auditory feedback.
• You can try shadowing real sentences. Shadowing helps words stay in context, not just as empty definitions. You can try this link to find words in different contexts. https://skell.sketchengine.eu/#not-found Choose a sentence from a podcast, song, video or article that uses your target word. Then:
  • Repeat it out loud several times.
  • Copy the rhythm, speed and pronunciation.
  • Pause and change the sentence with your own ideas.
• Focus on depth, not speed. Master 3-5 words, don’t aim to learn 20 new words a day. Understand fewer, use them, revisit them over several days, mix them with others.
• How often? Not every day. Use space repetition: review on day 1, day 3, day 6, day 10. You’re not a robot. Your brain remembers better if it has to work a little to remember.
• Accept that you will forget some words. That’s normal. The key is not to give up, but to build up the words over time. You’re not starting from scratch each time (although it may feel that way) – you’re strengthening the neural pathway. Vocabulary is like a muscle: repetition, rest, reuse.

The bottom line is that your vocabulary is growing, even if you don’t feel it. If you want to speed things up, stop reviewing and start using them in context, out loud, with feeling.

• speak them
• personalise them
• repeat with variation
• make it fun

It’s not about memorising more – it’s about activating what you already know.

This week’s challenge:
Pick 3 words you think you “know” but never use.
➡️ create 3 different sentences for each
➡️ say them out loud
➡️ record one and send it to a friend (or me!)
Let’s make your vocabulary work for you.

And don’t forget to download my free ebook: VOCABULARY REVOLUTION.

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

 

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.