Managing Expectations When Learning a Language 

Really like that part when you explain about having difficulty to understand what is being said in a situation where you are not familiar with the context. Native speakers live their whole life in their language and they would obviously be familiar and understand the notion and references that are involved in a particular environment (say, sitcoms or stand up jokes)

Hi there! Thanks for reaffirming the need to manage expectations. I've been learning Russian for close to a year, and spent the last 3 months of concentrating on speaking with my tutor. However, even though I made a great deal of progress, even participating in a language group meetup, I still feel completely overwhelmed if I have to speak. So much so I have taken a break the last 3 weeks. Your video is alleviating some of the apprehension of going back to it. Thanks.

I totally agree. I'm a native Chinese speaker who lived in China for nearly 18 years. Now that I've lived in Canada for about 20 years and I watch some entertainment programs from China. Sometime I don't get what they are talking about. I speak Chinese on a daily basis with my family. It's just their Chinese in those programs is so strange sometimes, especially from those young people. I don't feel bad. I don't bother.

Always nice see the comments and remember there are a bunch of people dealing with high expectations of themselves. Perfectionism/ expectations can be a pain

A wonderful reminder. Despite the fact I am active in the languages I learn every day through lots of listening and reading, I still beat myself up when it comes to expressing myself during frequent conversation classes. I get anxious about whether or not I'm improving from lesson to lesson, week to week. However, I suppose it's worth it to give oneself credit when you understand more and more every day and are adding new words to your active vocabulary.

My expectations, unfortunately, rise as I get better.

I love your words of wisdow!!!! I love Lingq!!!!

Thank you so much for your encouragement. Having discovered some years ago that I’ve picked up some Italian from listening to opera and reading libretti, I’ve now taken on Russian. Motivated by really understanding Eugene Onegin. So much drama helps me remember, and I’m appreciating the work so much more with each little increase in understanding.

Thank you for this Steve. I have been feeling very discouraged in my language learning lately and this video seems to have arrived at the perfect time.

This video came at a great time for me personally - thank you so much for sharing your mind with us Steve!

Steve, thank you for this video. Exactly what I needed to hear this morning.

Gracias por este video. :) I've been learning Spanish for just over 3 weeks after a long time "on and off" with other languages (mostly Japanese). Thank you for sharing this, it's timed perfectly because I'm determined to make Spanish my first language of at least B2 / C1 fluency, before allowing my excitement to pull me elsewhere! So far, my expectations are that within a year, I'll be at a fairly comfortable level and beginning to enjoying some native content and discussions (~ B1) if I keep the study, input, and practice up, but that's just the beginning... El viaje ha justo empezado. Veamos!

This video really helped me in a way that now I should not feel anxious with certain things about learning a language. Thank you Steve Kaufmann, best whishes for you.

Thank you STEVE I like very much to study English or french with you.

Steve, once again, you saved me from a severe depression. Even if I understand written or spoken Japanese, sometime, my ability to use grammar when I speak or write to my professor is terrible and it feels so discouraged. It's maybe because I had 2 strokes that affected my ability to form grammatical sentences even in my own language (Romanian language and a dozen other ones). My mother had the same type of stroke and is unbearable to understand without being able to express your thoughts in a logical or grammatical way . You are so right! Managing expectation is important. Otherwise you'll crash down without any hope of achieving your goal.

I've just completed two years of study in my target language. I've been at a B1 level since the start of the year. Although my comprehension has improved a lot this year, my inability to express my thoughts in my target language adequately frustrates me. Speaking is my weakest area of the 4 facets of language learning. I'm still motivated to keep learning, but the frustration is now starting to get to me.

Steve you are such an inspiration. Thank you very much for this video.

Thank you. This was very encouraging

I think as you start to learn more than one, it helps to manage expectations as you realise how different each one is to learn. For me, learning French and Turkish is super easy but German is taking a lot longer.

Managing expectations was hard for me at first with Spanish because I was so impatient but it's definitely an important part of the process and like you say if you don't do it you'll become demotivated and wont make any progress long term!

Great video as this is an important part of language learning. You have inspired me to also create a channel about languages!

Fantástico video! ❤👌

I like the background

Regards from Venezuela!

I feel like this is probably THE most important aspect of learning anything really. With that said, I feel like there’s a fine line between managing your expectations and not caring enough to actively learn the language. Any thoughts for how you all manage this :)?

Steve you need add Harakat, vowel sign on the Arabic short stories, to make it easier to read, that is the fastest way to read without vowel sign eventually.

Hello Steve, in another video you mentioned these 3 points but there was a little difference, you suggested that according to Stephen Krashen we don't notice things on purpose when learning languages, so the 3rd point was in fact the availability of interesting content. I think we can sometimes make an effort and notice things, but only after a lot of reading/listening and that what really counts is the interesting content that we can find. Anyway, you've learned more languages than me so I'd like to hear your opinion.

For people who want to have a more neutral accent close to standard American English should check out Hadar's channel

Very interesting video. But my question is , how much time a day do you spend learning a language.? For instance Arabic in your 90 day challenge ?

Video title that fits my mood of the day with Japanese.

Hey Steve...I am happy to hear about your progress and I am excited to listen to your Arabic...is it possible to upload your Podcast about the Emirates and all that on LingQ? Or if it is there already could you give us the name...I am learning Arabic as well on LingQ and I am searching for new content all the time :) thanks for all and my god bless you sir :)

Just what I needed to hear. Thank you. Çok teşekkür ederim.

Greetings from Mexico.

When will the next version of Lingq be released?

Hi, Steve. Do you have any advice for me? I have trouble understanding foreign languages when spoken very fast. Especially French as the words tend to blend together and several words sound similar.

First onee, great content as always, keep it up!

Tudo Bem Steve, Quantos Idiomas você Fala?

Hi how are you

Do more italian videos please. You have only made 5 in total. One of the lowest of all of your languages and this way I can also learn italian from you

The sound was low, check it please