🏡 Comfort Zones in Language Learning

Introversion and stepping otuside of your comfort zone

🏡 Language Learning Comfort Zones

When you start learning a new language, it can be difficult to figure out where to start. For me, getting input was the first thing I did to learn Mandarin. I knew nothing and had no one around me who spoke Mandarin so the best way I could expose myself was to watch videos. Eventually, I started noticing new words, making flashcards and learning those words.

Over time I started to understand a higher percentage of what I was hearing and even reading. Listening, reading and learning vocab were my comfort zones. What was outside my comfort zone was using Mandarin to write or speak.

💬 Speaking, Outputting & Introversion

I’m an introvert which means I’m more comfortable doing things on my own. Speaking involves interacting with others while reading is something I already enjoy doing in English. While I’m sure my introversion had a lot to do with staying in my comfort zones, not having people to talk to or money to pay for language tutors also contributed to my lack of speaking.

I learned early on that the only way to get better at speaking and writing was to speak and write. I started practicing speaking with audio recordings using my phone whenever I felt like it. I still have the recording of the first time I spoke Mandarin 4 years ago. Even with my limited practice, I saw improvements with each recording.

Although audio recordings did help me improve my ability to think in Mandarin and form sentences, it wasn’t enough to develop conversational skills.

You don’t know what you don’t know until you’re put in a new situation.

Last year was the first year I stepped outside of my comfort zone and took my first conversation lesson on italki. Before then, I had one or two language exchange conversations and interacted with a bookseller at a Chinese bookstore (in person!). Those few interactions were positive and I always got good feedback. The conversations felt similar to what a conversation in English would be like for me. This is because even in English I’m more of a listener than a talker.

With all the listening I’ve done over the years, I’m able to understand what’s being said to me quite easily. When it’s my turn to speak though, I can communicate but my discomfort and lack of practice are evident. The most common feedback I’ve gotten from Mandarin tutors is that my listening skills are great and the only reason I don’t feel comfortable speaking is that I don’t speak enough.

The solution should be simple then, right?

Speak more.

Take more conversation classes.

Years ago when I was a student, my reasons for not taking conversation classes were the cost. Now, I know what’s holding me back isn’t necessarily the cost but my introversion.

As I said earlier, I listen more than I talk when I have conversations in English. I’m sure some of that transfers into Mandarin and my other target languages.

In Tanya’s video about not speaking her TLs, she shares that one of the reasons people don’t speak in their target language is because they are introverts. One comment in the video said,

Maybe that is the reason why I’m ok with just understanding languages, so I don’t have to get out of my comfort zone

Tanya also shares that social anxiety is what holds her back. It’s nice to know that I’m not alone. The main goals I have in my TLs are to read since books are something I enjoy. While I do like speaking my TLs, I am in no rush to speed up my speaking progress.

🌤️ Stepping Out of My Comfort Zone

In many ways writing this newsletter is stepping out of my comfort zone. I’m having to write out my thoughts and share them with anyone who will read it.

I’ve noticed that stepping out of my comfort zone in one area transfers into other areas. I won’t become an extrovert but maybe I’ll start doing more of the things that are outside my comfort zone.

How to step outside your comfort zone

It’s important to remind ourselves of the times when we have stepped out of our comfort zones, especially when we want to do it again. This reminder helps us increase our confidence and enables us to continue to develop our skills.

Here is a list of ways I’ve stepped outside of my comfort zone in Mandarin.

• I visited a Chinese bookstore, built up the courage to ask a question to the bookstore clerk and then had a conversation in Mandarin.

  • I was looking for the magazine section so I did what I would do in English in Mandarin and asked where the magazine section was.

• Had some language exchange conversations throughout my Mandarin journey.

• Took my first few conversation lessons with Mandarin tutors.

• Wrote articles for Path to Chinese Magazine issues and newsletters

  • I started out only illustrating because I didn’t think my writing abilities were good enough yet. By writing and having a reason to write, I started improving.

Advice to myself and anyone else wanting to step outside their comfort zone:

Start small.

---

❓ What about you?

What are your language learning comfort zones? Do you focus on learning grammar and not enough on increasing your vocab?

Are you like me, spending more time getting input and avoiding outputting?

Thanks for reading!