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Is learning a foreign language as easy as some want us to believe? What are the consequences of thinking that you can learn a language without effort? Listen to find out, and while doing so, learn a few useful words and expressions.
You can download the transcript of this episode here .
EASY or DIFFICULT - expressions introduced in the recording:
EFFORTLESS : Something that is effortless is done easily and well.
A PIECE OF CAKE : If you think something is very easy to do, you can say it is a piece of cake. It is often used to stop people feeling worried about doing something they have to do.
MASTERY : If you show mastery of a skill, you show that you have acquired it completely and have no difficulty doing something.
DAUNTING : A task that is daunting makes you feel afraid or less confident.
PLAIN SAILING : If you say that a task was plain sailing, you mean that it was very easy.
BREAK SWEAT : If you break sweat, you use a lot of effort.
PUT EFFORT INTO SOMETHING : If put effort into something, you use physical or mental energy to do it.
Other interesting words and expressions used in the recording:
- to get round to something - to find time to do something
- a procrastinator - someone who often puts off doing things
- to spread a lie - to tell a lie to a lot of people
- to boost one's motivation - to make one's motivation stronger
- a big fat lie - a complete lie
- comprehensible - that can be understood by somebody
- simultaneously - happening at the same time
- to come up with something - to produce, think, invent something
- to be encoded - to be changed into a from that could be processed (e.g by a brain, or computer)
- to be embedded - to be fixed firmly into something
- to lie through one's teeth - to say something that is completely untrue
- to serve a purpose - to have a specific goal
- the waters turn up to be rough - the situation proves to be difficult
- grit - courage and determination that makes it possible for somebody to continue doing something difficult or unpleasant for a long time
- perseverance - the quality of keeping trying to achieve a particular aim despite difficulties
- language aptitude - natural ability to learn a language
- to develop a growth mindset - to try to learn the skill through dedication and hard work; focusing on getting pleasure from the effort put into the task rather than from the future goal
Takeaway 1: Learning a foreign language is not easy.
Takeaway 2: Learners of a foreign language should focus less on achieving their long term goals, but instead develop a growth mindset, which will allow them to get pleasure from hard work.
Link to Andrew Huberman's video on the subject.
For more, visit: PoLoop Angielski Blog
Drop me a line: jacek@poloopangielski.pl
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Would you like me to help you master your English? You can find out more about my courses here .
Jest to odcinek podkastu:
PoLoop Angielski
This is a podcast for intermediate learners of English, especially my students, current and those I taught in the past. Since most of them are Polish, it was originally designed with Polish learners in mind. However, with new technology and methods of communication, allowing me to work with students from various parts of the world, the podcast has quickly evolved, and is no longer aimed at one particular nationality. The majority of my listeners are not even my students. The original goal, however, remains the same: providing learners of English with advice and listening material that could help them on their way from the intermediate to the advanced level of English language competence - the route I followed too.