Transcription
EnglishLeap Podcast >> from Speak English with Class.
Jake, I saw a learner comment yesterday that stayed with me.
>> What did it say?
>> I study English, but when I try to speak, I freeze. Maybe I'm just not made for this.
>> That hurts.
>> It does, because I think many learners have thought something like that.
>> After one bad conversation?
>> After forgetting a word they knew yesterday.
>> After listening to a podcast and thinking, "Why do they speak so fast?"
>> And then the mind jumps straight to, "Maybe I should stop."
>> That jump is dangerous.
>> Yes, not because the feeling is fake.
>> The feeling is very real.
>> But it may be too early to trust the conclusion.
>> So, today is not a just a positive episode.
>> No, I don't think that helps enough.
>> Good. My inner critic would roll its eyes.
>> Today, we're talking about the moment before you give up on yourself too quickly.
>> When you're tired, disappointed, and almost ready to believe the harshest story about yourself.
>> And why that story may not deserve the final word.
Hey, English learners. Welcome back to the EnglishLeap Podcast, your cozy little place to learn easy English through real everyday conversations. I'm Anna.
>> And I'm Jake, and today's episode is already looking at me a little too directly.
>> The topic is don't give up on yourself too quickly.
>> This is for English learners, but also for anyone trying to build something slowly.
>> Confidence, a skill, a better routine.
>> A dream that keeps taking longer than expected.
>> We'll keep it honest today. Some days growth feels slow.
>> Some days your confidence drops for no clear reason.
>> Some days quitting sounds reasonable.
>> Very reasonable. Almost professional.
>> But we want to ask a better question. How do we keep going in a way that still feels possible?
>> Right. And because this is a B2 level conversation, we'll keep the main English clear and natural.
>> But we'll also include a few C1 level words along the way.
>> Not to make the episode difficult.
>> No, to help you gently move from B2 towards C1.
>> Like crossing a bridge step by step.
>> Exactly. You don't have to jump.
>> Later in word tour, we'll slow those stronger words down and show you how to use them naturally.
>> And after that, we'll have say it better.
>> That's where we take heavy learner sentences and give them better words.
>> Words that are honest, natural, and kinder to yourself.
>> And if English is one of the things you're building, English Leap Club can support you after the episode.
>> With transcripts, vocabulary practice, quizzes, games, and shadowing.
>> So you can return to the episode, practice with it, and make the language yours.
>> As you listen, think about this. Where have I been judging myself too quickly?
>> Let's begin. Anna, that learner comment feels painfully familiar.
>> The maybe I'm just not made for this part?
>> Yes, because that sentence usually doesn't arrive at the beginning.
>> True, it arrives after something hurts.
>> After you freeze in a conversation, after you forget a simple word, after you finally speak and the sentence comes out wrong.
>> And then one bad moment starts acting like the whole truth.
>> That is the dangerous part.
>> Yes, the moment may be real, but the conclusion may be too harsh.
>> I've had that feeling before.
>> With English?
>> With another language. I recorded myself speaking for practice once.
>> Brave.
>> Not for long. I listened for about 6 seconds and deleted it.
>> 6 seconds?
>> Maybe five. My inner critic arrived immediately.
>> That voice inside your mind that judges you before the full story is even clear?
>> Yes, mine said, "Never do that again."
>> Harsh.
>> Very efficient, though.
>> The inner critic can be like that. It doesn't always shout.
>> Mine sounded calm, almost professional.
>> What did it say?
>> You sound awkward. Don't embarrass yourself.
>> And because it sounds like advice, you almost believe it.
>> That's what scared me. It didn't feel cruel in the moment, it felt sensible.
>> But it was not the whole truth.
>> No, the truth was I sounded uncomfortable because I was practicing something new.
>> That is very different from I should never speak.
>> Completely different.
>> So, before you give up on yourself, pause and ask, "What actually happened?"
>> Not, "What horrible thing does this prove about me?"
>> Right. What happened?
>> I forgot a word.
>> I froze.
>> I missed practice.
>> I sounded awkward.
>> Those are problems you can work with.
>> But I'm hopeless is not a plan.
>> It's a locked door.
>> And we don't build a life from a locked door.
>> That line hurt a little.
>> Good hurt?
>> Useful hurt.
>> Then keep the sentence. My inner critic is loud today, but that doesn't mean it is right.
>> That gives you space.
>> And space matters.
>> Because when there is space, you can choose the next step.
>> But not every hard moment is loud and sudden.
>> True. Sometimes you don't give up after one bad conversation.
>> Sometimes you get tired slowly. This is another reason people give up too quickly.
>> They keep trying, but the result doesn't come fast enough.
>> Yes, you study for weeks, you listen, you repeat, you save useful phrases.
>> You feel like you were doing the right things.
>> Then real conversation starts and your mind goes blank.
>> That is such a rude moment.
>> Very rude.
>> Because you don't just feel sad, you feel disheartened.
>> Like your hope has lost energy.
>> Yes, you still care, but you are tired of trying.
>> That feeling deserves honesty.
>> Not a poster sentence.
>> Not just believe in yourself.
>> Thank you.
>> A better truth is this. Effort and results don't always arrive together.
>> Annoying truth.
>> Very annoying, but useful.
>> So, what should a learner do when they feel disheartened?
>> First, lower the weight for a short time.
>> Lower the weight?
>> Yes. Imagine you're carrying something heavy. If it becomes too much, you don't have to throw the whole thing away.
>> You can carry a smaller piece.
>> Right. Instead of I must speak fluently, try I'll answer one question out loud.
>> That feels possible.
>> Instead of I must finish the whole episode, try I'll repeat one useful minute.
>> That does not sound like quitting.
>> Because it isn't quitting. It is making the step possible again.
>> And what should they measure?
>> Recovery.
>> Recovery?
>> Yes. Last month, maybe you froze and stopped. This time, maybe you froze, paused, and answered with a simple sentence.
>> That still feels small.
>> It is small, but it is not nothing.
>> Because you came back into the conversation.
>> Yes, that matters.
>> So, when hope gets tired, don't only ask, "Why am I not there yet?"
>> Ask, "What is one smaller sign that I am still learning?"
>> That question is kinder.
>> And more accurate.
>> And what about when something actually goes wrong?
>> A real setback?
>> Yes, a problem that slows you down and hits your confidence.
>> Like missing practice for 2 weeks.
>> Or doing badly in a speaking test.
>> Or trying a conversation and feeling embarrassed afterwards.
>> That kind of thing can feel heavy.
>> It can. A setback can shake your confidence.
>> But it can also give you information.
>> That is the part people miss.
>> Let's make it practical.
>> Good.
>> Imagine a learner wants to speak better, but every day she only watches English videos quietly.
>> So, she is spending time with English.
>> Yes, and that is not useless.
>> But it is not the same as speaking practice.
>> Right. Then one day someone asks her a simple question in English and she freezes.
>> Painful.
>> Very. But the lesson is not I'm bad at English.
>> The lesson is my practice has not trained the skill yet.
>> That is much more useful.
>> Because now she can change something.
>> She can answer one question out loud after each video.
>> Or repeat one short dialogue until it feels natural.
>> Or prepare three sentences before a real conversation.
>> That is how a setback becomes useful.
>> It stops being a punishment and becomes feedback.
>> Feedback with bad manners.
>> Very bad manners.
>> But still feedback.
>> So, after a setback, don't only ask, "How do I stay motivated?"
>> Ask, "What did this show me?"
>> And what needs to change?
>> That question can save months.
>> Because sometimes people don't need more pressure.
>> They need a better method.
>> That is worth remembering.
>> And even when the method is better, progress may still feel quiet for a while.
>> That's the part learners hate.
>> I know.
>> The plateau.
>> Yes, the plateau.
>> The flat part.
>> A plateau is when progress seems to stop even though you are still working.
>> I hate that part.
>> Most people do.
>> At least with a setback, something happens.
>> True. A plateau is quieter. It is like walking on a long flat road and thinking, "Am I even moving?"
>> That is a good image.
>> Thank you. I keep one metaphor in my pocket.
>> Use it carefully.
>> I will try.
>> The plateau is difficult because the early rewards disappear.
>> At the beginning, you learn 10 useful phrases and feel amazing.
>> You understand your first simple conversation.
>> You order coffee in English and feel like a new person.
>> Then, later, progress becomes less visible.
>> You are not learning hello anymore.
>> You are learning speed, tone, confidence, and flexibility.
>> Harder things to measure.
>> Yes, much harder.
>> So, during a plateau, the wrong question is, "Am I fluent yet?"
>> Too much pressure.
>> What is the better question?
>> Can I understand the main idea faster than before?
>> Good.
>> Can I continue after a mistake?
>> Useful.
>> Can I explain my idea with simpler words?
>> Very useful.
>> Those questions show movement on the flat road.
>> So, the plateau is not a wall.
>> No, it may be a stage where progress is becoming deeper, not louder.
>> That helps.
>> And if nothing changes for a long time, don't panic.
>> Change the practice.
>> Slightly.
>> Not burn everything down.
>> Please don't burn everything down.
>> So, if I always listen, I add shadowing.
>> If you always learn words, use them in your own sentences.
>> If you always study alone, try one short conversation.
>> If you always jump to new content, repeat one useful part until it becomes yours.
>> Less exciting.
>> Usually.
>> More effective.
>> Often.
>> That is unfair, but acceptable.
>> And that brings us to something people often misunderstand.
>> Perseverance?
>> Yes, because perseverance is not just try harder.
>> I'm glad you said that because people make perseverance sound painful.
>> Very painful. Like you must suffer silently and never change anything.
>> The movie version.
>> Running in the rain.
>> Staring at a mountain.
>> Music swelling in the background.
>> I don't trust any life plan that requires background music.
>> Wise.
>> So, what is perseverance in real life?
>> Continuing with care.
>> That sounds softer than I expected.
>> It is softer, but it is not weak.
>> Explain.
>> Perseverance is returning after a bad week.
>> But not pretending the bad week didn't happen.
>> Right. It is returning and asking, "What would make this easier to continue?"
>> So, if I missed practice because my routine was too big,
>> you return with a smaller routine.
>> If I avoided speaking because I felt nervous,
>> you return with a script.
>> If listening felt too fast,
>> you return with slower audio and repetition.
>> So, perseverance is not punishment.
>> No. It is commitment with adjustment.
>> That line is strong.
>> Keep it?
>> Keep it.
>> Commitment with adjustment.
>> Direction stays, method changes.
>> Yes. That gives people a way back.
>> And honestly, many learners don't need a perfect plan.
>> They need a way back without shame.
>> That feels true.
>> But even with a better plan, there is still one honest question left.
>> Whether the journey still matters.
>> Yes. Is this still worthwhile?
>> Valuable enough for the time, effort, and difficulty.
>> Right. I like this question because it doesn't lie.
>> It doesn't say, "This should be easy."
>> And it doesn't say, "You must continue everything forever."
>> It asks whether the effort still has meaning.
>> English may be hard, but does it still matter to you?
>> Does it help you speak to more people?
>> Understand more of the world?
>> Find better opportunities?
>> Express yourself more clearly?
>> Feel more confident in rooms where English is used?
>> If yes, then maybe the journey is still worthwhile.
>> Even if today was bad.
>> Even if progress is slow.
>> Even if the method needs changing.
>> Even if you need rest first.
>> So, don't ask only, is this easy? Ask, does this still matter to me?
>> And if it does?
>> Rest.
>> Adjust.
>> Make the next step smaller.
>> Get support.
>> And come back.
>> Because you may not be finished.
>> You may just need a better way forward.
>> So, we started with a learner who said, "Maybe I'm just not made for this."
>> I hope that sentence feels less final now.
>> Maybe your inner critic gets loud.
>> Maybe you feel disheartened.
>> Maybe you face a setback or hit a plateau.
>> But that does not mean the journey is over.
>> No. Perseverance can simply mean returning with a better plan.
>> And if the journey still matters to you, it may still be worthwhile.
>> If it is, don't give up on yourself too quickly.
>> Now, let's slow down some of the stronger words from today's conversation.
>> These are useful B2 to C1 words for talking about growth, struggle, and progress.
>> Our first phrase is inner critic.
>> Inner critic. Inner critic.
>> Your inner critic is the negative voice inside your mind that judges you or tells you that you are not good enough.
>> It is not a real person, but it can feel very loud.
>> You could say, "My inner critic gets loud when I make mistakes."
>> Or, "I'm learning not to believe everything my inner critic says."
>> A useful pattern is, "My inner critic tells me that >> My inner critic tells me that I'm not improving, but that does not mean it is true."
>> This phrase helps you separate yourself from the thought.
>> You are not the thought. You are the person hearing it.
>> Mhm. Our next word is disheartened.
>> Dis- heart-ened. Disheartened.
>> Disheartened means disappointed and less hopeful because something is difficult or not going well.
>> It is stronger than sad and deeper than discouraged.
>> You could say, "I felt disheartened when I didn't see progress."
>> Or, "Many learners feel disheartened after a difficult conversation."
>> Common pattern, feel disheartened by something.
>> I felt disheartened by my slow progress.
>> Honest, but not hopeless.
>> Our next word is setback.
>> Setback. Setback.
>> A setback is a problem or difficulty that slows your progress.
>> The important idea is that it slows progress. It does not have to stop progress.
>> You could say, "Missing one week of practice was a setback, but I can start again."
>> Or, "One setback does not mean the whole journey is over."
>> Common verbs, have a setback, face a setback, recover from a setback.
>> Useful for English, work, health, money, and life. Our next word is plateau.
>> Pla- teau. Plateau.
>> A plateau is a stage where progress seems to stop. A common phrase is hit a plateau.
>> I hit a plateau after 6 months of practice.
>> You can also say, "I feel like I've reached a plateau in my English."
>> A plateau can be frustrating, but it is common in long-term learning. Our next word is perseverance.
>> Perseverance.
>> Perseverance means continuing even when something is difficult.
>> It is a noun. The verb is persevere.
>> You could say, "Learning English requires perseverance."
>> Or, "I want to persevere even when progress feels slow.
>> But, remember today's idea. Perseverance is not just pushing harder.
>> Sometimes perseverance means returning after a difficult day.
>> Returning with a better plan.
>> That sounds more human. Our final word is worthwhile.
>> Worthwhile. Worthwhile.
>> Worthwhile means valuable enough for the time, effort, or difficulty.
>> You could say, "Learning English is difficult, but it is worthwhile."
>> Or, "This journey still feels worthwhile even when progress is slow."
>> Common pattern, "It is worthwhile to >> It is worthwhile to keep practicing even when the results are not immediate.
>> Another pattern, "Make something worthwhile."
>> The small improvements make the effort worthwhile.
>> This word is useful because it admits the effort and the value. Today's words were inner critic, disheartened, setback, plateau, perseverance, and worthwhile.
>> Keep one word with you today.
>> The one that feels closest to your life right now.
>> And now, before say it better, let's talk about how to practice this episode after listening.
>> If today's conversation felt close to your own life, this is a good episode to revisit slowly.
>> Inside English Leap Club, you can use the transcript, vocabulary practice, quizzes, games, and shadowing.
>> Read one part. Listen again. Repeat a few lines out loud.
>> You don't have to master everything today.
>> Just take one useful sentence and make it yours.
>> That is how the episode becomes practice.
>> And now, let's turn today's ideas into better English sentences.
>> This is say it better. And today, we're not trying to make difficult feelings sound perfect.
>> Right. We're trying to give those feelings better words.
>> Words that are honest, but not cruel.
>> Let's start with this sentence. I am bad at English.
>> Oof, that sounds like a final judgement.
>> It does. Like the story is already finished.
>> A better way to say it is, I'm still building my English and I need more time.
>> That feels kinder.
>> And more accurate, because bad closes the door. Still building keeps it open.
>> Here's another one. My mind says I can't do it.
>> I know that sentence.
>> Me, too.
>> But maybe we can make it clearer. My inner critic is loud today, but I don't have to believe everything it says.
>> I like that. It doesn't pretend the thought disappeared.
>> Yes, it just puts the thought in its place.
>> The thought is there.
>> But it is not the boss. Next sentence. I feel sad because I'm not improving.
>> That is understandable, but maybe sad is not specific enough here.
>> True. It sounds a little too simple for the feeling.
>> A stronger version is, I feel disheartened because my progress is slower than I expected.
>> That feels more mature.
>> And it explains the real reason.
>> You're not just sad, you're disappointed because you care.
>> Here's one many learners say. I failed again.
>> That sentence is heavy.
>> Very heavy.
>> And sometimes unfair.
>> A better version is, I had a setback, but I can adjust my method and continue.
>> That changes the feeling.
>> How?
>> I failed again sounds like the end. I had a setback sounds like something happened and now I can respond.
>> Yes, it gives you a next step.
>> Next one, I'm not improving.
>> This one can feel true during a plateau.
>> The flat part where you're working but progress feels quiet.
>> A better sentence is, I may be on a plateau but I'm still building skills I cannot see yet.
>> I like that but I'd maybe make it more natural for speaking.
>> Try.
>> I feel stuck right now but that doesn't mean nothing is happening.
>> That's very natural.
>> Maybe we keep both.
>> Yes. The first one teaches the word plateau. The second one is easier to say in a real moment. Here's another painful one, I always quit.
>> That sentence attacks your whole identity.
>> It does. It doesn't leave space for change.
>> A better version is, I'm learning perseverance by returning after difficult days.
>> That sounds strong but maybe a little polished.
>> Fair. Spoken version?
>> I've stopped before but I'm learning how to come back.
>> That feels human.
>> Yes, it admits the past without trapping you inside it.
>> Final sentence, this is too hard.
>> Sometimes that sentence is true.
>> Yes, some things really are hard.
>> So we don't need to erase that feeling.
>> We just need to complete the sentence.
>> A better version is, this is difficult but it still feels worthwhile to me.
>> That's honest.
>> It says, this takes effort but I still see value in it.
>> And that is very different from pretending everything is easy.
>> Exactly. Hard does not always mean wrong.
>> Sometimes hard just means the thing matters.
>> So English learners, before you give up on yourself, pause.
>> Ask yourself a better question.
>> Am I really finished or am I just tired?
>> Did I fail or did I face a setback?
>> Am I stuck forever or am I on a plateau?
>> Do I need to quit or do I need a better method?
>> Is this still worthwhile to me?
>> If the answer is yes, make the next step smaller.
>> Rest if you need to.
>> Return when you can.
>> Our question for you is simple. Complete this sentence in the comments.
>> I will not give up on
>> Maybe your answer is English.
>> Maybe confidence.
>> Maybe a dream you still care about.
>> And if your answer feels private, you can keep it private.
>> It still counts.
>> Thank you for listening to English Leap Podcast.
>> Keep learning.
>> Keep returning.
>> And don't give up on yourself too quickly.
>> See you in the next episode.
>> Bye for now.
>> [music]
>> Your progress doesn't end here. To continue advancing your English skills, [music] click on the next video or explore the additional videos we thoughtfully selected for you.