2026-06-12
8 分钟Today I want to talk about the comfort zone.
Comfort.
A very important part of language learning that is often not talked about.
Now we do say to improve or to even be interested in another language,
we have to be prepared to get outside our comfort zone.
I think I have said that before, but I'm having second thoughts.
I've also said that the definition of fluency, my definition of fluency is when I feel comfortable and when the person
listening to me feels comfortable hearing me speak that language or engaging with me in that language.
So being comfortable is a big part of successful language learning.
In fact, we don't get outside of our comfort zone, we move our comfort zone so that we're always comfortable.
And in that regard, I decided to have a look at the book that I wrote back in 2003 about language learning.
One of the key concepts in what I wrote back in 2003,
so that's 23 years ago, is that a person's mindset is key.
Are you willing to accept imperfection?
Are you willing to be comfortable with imperfection?
Are you curious about other cultures?
Are you willing to project yourself into that other culture and engage with people of a different culture and language?
That doesn't necessarily mean being uncomfortable.
In fact, you want to be comfortable being with these people of a different language and culture.
In a way, my book predated at least my knowledge of crashing