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Episode Forty:
Overcoming Failure as You Learn English
Today I want to talk about something that every language learner faces:
Failure.
What do I mean when I say failure? I’m talking about those times when you tongue won’t work. Times when you want to throw your textbook out the window. Times when you can’t understand a word someone says. Times when you remember a wrong word you said and how that embarrassed you.
No matter how many years you speak a second (or third or fourth) language, you will always face failure. Our brains aren’t designed to speak perfectly. In fact, there are no “perfect” speakers of any language. We all make mistakes, even native speakers. We mis-pronounce words. We use the wrong word. We misunderstand other people when they say one thing, but we think they mean something else. Everyone fails at language.
For the second language learner, we fail more frequently than native speakers. It can feel humbling, meaning we can feel embarrassed of ourselves, or we can start to feel like we’re stupid.
But guess what? You’re not stupid. Even in your most frustrating moments, you’re trying. It’s not stupid to fail. It’s only stupid to stop trying.
Sometimes when I face a frustrating situation, I want to give up. I don’t like failing. I would much rather be perfect every time. I always want to say the right thing at the right time. I want to succeed, and I want people to think highly of me.
But do you know what? People who want to be perfect all the time make terrible learners. “Perfect” people are so afraid of looking stupid that they stop growing. They only say or do what they know they are a master of, and they don’t ever try to say or do something new.
The best language learners are those people who embrace failure. They learn to love failure. Because failing means you’re growing. It means you’re learning. The only way to properly pronounce “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers” is to say it horribly over and over until you say it well.
The only way to truly understand native speakers is to listen to them without subtitles and without a translator.
Learning a language can be scary! It’s scary to fail. But it’s the only way to learn a language.
Why am I talking about this today? Well today, I failed majorly on a project that I was working on. I taught a class that didn’t go well, and I left the situation feeling like I had failed. I left the class feeling stupid, and like I would never learn what I needed to in order to be successful.
But do you know what I did after that class? I talked to someone who was an expert in that subject, and I asked for help. That’s difficult for me to ask for help, but it’s absolutely the best thing for me.
When you face frustration and embarrassment in language learning, you just need to ask for help. Don’t tell yourself that you can just figure it out on your own. Ask for help from a teacher, mentor, or native-speaking friend. The more questions you ask, the more you will grow.
The reason we learn a second language is to connect with other people. We need other people to help us grow our language skills so we can connect more with others.
Make failure your friend. Every mispronounced word, every wrong usage is helping you grow. Just don’t give up.
If you’re ready to ask for help, I’m here to help you. A good place to start is my Clear English Pronunciation course.
Until next time, Happy learning!
– Andrea
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The following is a TOEFL Reading practice test to help you prepare for the Reading section of the TOEFL test.
Instructions: Read the sample passage below and then answer the questions that follow.
TOEFL Reading Practice Passage
Gorillas are ground-dwelling, predominantly herbivorous apes that inhabit the forest of central Sub-Saharan Africa. The genus Gorilla is divided into two species: the eastern gorillas and the western gorillas (both critically endangered), and either four or five subspecies. They are the largest living primates. The DNA of gorillas is highly similar to that of humans, from 95 to 99% depending on what is included, and they are the next closest living relatives to humans after the chimpanzees and bonobos.
Gorillas' natural habitats cover tropical or subtropical forest in Sub-Saharan Africa. Although their range covers a small percentage of Sub-Saharan Africa, gorillas cover a wide range of elevations. The mountain gorilla inhabits the Albertine Rift montane cloud forests of the Virunga Volcanoes, ranging in altitude from 2,200 to 4,300 metres (7,200 to 14,100 ft). Lowland gorillas live in dense forests and lowland swamps and marshes as low as sea level, with western lowland gorillas living in Central West African countries and eastern lowland gorillas living in the Democratic Republic of the Congo near its border with Rwanda.
(#1) Gorillas move around by knuckle-walking, although they sometimes walk upright for short distances, typically while carrying food or in defensive situations. (#2) A 2018 study investigating the hand posture of 77 mountain gorillas at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (8% of the population) found that knuckle walking was done only 60% of the time, and they also supported their weight on their fists, the backs of their hands/feet, and on their palms/soles (with the digits flexed). (#3) Studies of gorilla handedness have yielded varying results, with some arguing for no preference for either hand, and others right-hand dominance for the general population. (#4)
The eastern gorilla is more darkly colored than the western gorilla, with the mountain gorilla being the darkest of all. The mountain gorilla also has the thickest hair. The western lowland gorilla can be brown or grayish with a reddish forehead. In addition, gorillas that live in lowland forest are more slender and agile than the more bulky mountain gorillas. The eastern gorilla also has a longer face and broader chest than the western gorilla. Like humans, gorillas have individual fingerprints. Their eye color is dark brown, framed by a black ring around the iris. Gorilla facial structure is described as mandibular prognathism, that is, the mandible protrudes farther out than the maxilla. Adult males also have a prominent sagittal crest.
A gorilla's lifespan is normally between 35 and 40 years, although zoo gorillas may live for 50 years or more. Colo, a female western gorilla at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, was the oldest known gorilla at 60 years of age when she died on 17 January 2017.
Questions
1. According to the passage, gorillas can live in
a. a variety of altitudes.
b. several different countries in Africa.
c. thick forests.
d. lowland forests only.
2. All of the following is true about gorillas EXCEPT
a. they primarily eat smaller animals.
b. they live in a forest habitat.
c. their genetics are similar to humans.
d. their diet consists of vegetation.
3. Look at the word predominantly in paragraph 1. The word predominantly in this passage refers to
a. impulsively
b. unfortunately
c. mainly
d. lastly
4. Look at the word inhabits in paragraph 2. The word inhabits in this passage refers to
a. lives in
b. protects
c. goes
d. works
5. The author implies that
a. most gorillas prefer using their left hand over their right.
b. gorillas rarely walk on their knuckles.
c. gorillas regularly walk upright for long distances.
d. studies haven't solidly proven which hand gorillas prefer using.
6. Why does the writer mention that the eastern gorilla also has a longer face and broader chest than the western gorilla?
a. To validate the importance a broad chest in western gorillas
b. To define the meaning of "broad"
c. To highlight a physical difference between types of gorillas
d. To demonstrate that most gorillas are identical in physical build
7. Which of the following statements is true for BOTH eastern and western gorillas.
a. Both eastern and western gorrilas are brown with red foreheads.
b. Both eastern and western gorrilas have unique fingerprints.
c. Both eastern and western gorrilas have thin hair.
d. Both eastern and western gorrilas have light brown eyes.
8. In Paragraph 3, look at the four numbers (#1, #2, #3, #4) that indicate where the following sentence would be added to the passage.
Such a range of hand postures was previously thought to have been used by only orangutans.
Where would the sentence best fit?
(View all the correct answers below.)
Great job! If you're ready to take your TOEFL preparation to the next level, go to StudyWithAndrea.com/TOEFL.
Answers: 1. d 2. a 3. c 4. a 5. d 6. c 7. b 8. #3
Click on one of the following links to start speaking clearer English!
1) TOEFL MASTER CLASS
2) free mini-course "punctuation mistakes to avoid"
3) Clear English Pronunciation Video Course
4) English Vocabulary - Audio Files & PDF - TOEFL & IELTS
About Andrea
Andrea Giordano is the founder of StudyWithAndrea.com and has taught more than 1,000,000 students from 180 countries. Andrea holds a Master of Education (TESOL) from Shenandoah University, and is the former Executive Director of TESOL and ESL programs at Campbellsville University. Andrea is a proven leader in online English teaching and is driven by her passion to help you speak English clearly.
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