[331] What to Do When You Feel Stuck Learning English

 [331] What to Do When You Feel Stuck Learning English

In this episode of the English Made Simple Show, I talk about what to do when you feel stuck learning English. I share simple tips, everyday expressions like hit a plateau and shake things up, plus a fun story featuring Ana and Carlos to help you stay motivated. It’s a gentle push to help you move forward and feel confident again in your English journey.

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Full Transcript (Feeling stuck learning English?)

Hey guys! You’re listening to the English Made Simple Show! This is episode number 331, number three hundred and thirty-one, número trescientos treinta y uno.

Welcome back, amigos y amigas! It’s your host Milena from englishmadesimple.net. Thanks for joining me again.

This episode is part of our mini-series called the Restart Your English Learning Program. In the last episode, we talked about creating a simple routine that you can actually stick to.

And today, we’re going to talk about something we ALL experience when learning a new language. That feeling of being stuck.

Have you ever felt like your English just isn’t improving? Like you’re doing all the right things, but you’re not getting any better? Or maybe you know a lot of vocabulary, but you still struggle to speak fluently?

Yep. Been there. Many times.

So, in today’s episode I’ll share a few tips and phrases to help you get out of that “stuck” feeling. Plus, I’ll share a story about Ana and Carlos (my two loyal imaginary friends) that will make all of this easier to understand.

Why Do We Feel Stuck?

Sometimes we hit a plateau. That’s another word for feeling stuck. In English, we say:

“I’ve hit a plateau” –  this means your progress has slowed down or stopped.

This is totally normal when learning a language. It happens to everyone. So don’t panic!

Usually it happens when:

• You’ve been learning for a while and you’re not seeing big improvements.
• You’re repeating the same study routine, but it feels boring.
• You’re afraid to make mistakes when speaking, so you stop speaking.

Sound familiar?

Let Me Tell You a Story

Let’s check in with our friends Ana and Carlos.

Carlos had been studying English on his own for 6 months. He listened to podcasts, watched YouTube videos, read articles online… but he wasn’t speaking much. One day he said to Ana:

“I feel like I’m not improving at all. I think I’ve hit a plateau.”

Ana replied, “Well, Carlos… maybe you need to try something different.”

So Ana challenged him: “Let’s practise speaking for 10 minutes every day. Just us. No pressure.”

At first, Carlos was nervous. He thought, “What if I make a mistake? What if Ana laughs at me?”

But Ana didn’t laugh. She listened, corrected him kindly, and encouraged him.

And guess what?

After a few weeks of short conversations, Carlos felt more confident. He didn’t feel stuck anymore.

Sometimes, a little change in your routine can make a BIG difference.

Useful Expressions

Here are a few expressions from today’s episode that you can use:

To hit a plateau – when your progress stops or slows down “I was improving quickly at first, but now I’ve hit a plateau.”

To shake things up – to try something new or different “I needed to shake things up in my routine, so I joined a speaking group.”

To break through – to overcome a challenge or barrier “Carlos finally broke through his fear of speaking.”

To get out of a rut – to stop doing the same boring routine “I was in a study rut, so I tried a new app.”

Repeat After Me

Alright amigos y amigas, time to practise. Repeat after me:

1. I think I’ve hit a plateau.
2. I need to shake things up.
3. I’m ready to break through!

Nice work! Keep repeating these every now and then.

What You Can Do When You Feel Stuck

Here are a few tips to help you break through when you feel stuck:

1. Change one thing in your routine. Try a new podcast, app, or YouTube channel.
2. Start speaking. Even if it’s to yourself or your cat. Speaking helps you connect the dots.
3. Find a speaking buddy. Like Carlos did with Ana. Even 5-10 minutes a day can help.
4. Focus on feedback. Don’t just consume English, practise and ask someone to help you improve.
5. Keep going. Progress may be slow, but it’s still progress!

Work With Me

If speaking is the one thing holding you back right now, guess what? I can help you with that!

I now offer 1:1 private sessions where we focus only on your pronunciation. You speak, I listen, and I give you feedback on how to sound clearer and more confident.

Go to 👉 englishmadesimple.net/learn-with-me and book your spot today. Click the yellow “Learn With Me” button and choose a time that suits you.

Spots are limited, so don’t wait too long!

Final Words

That’s it for today amigos y amigas!

Thank you for listening and being part of this amazing community. Remember, it’s completely normal to feel stuck sometimes. What matters is that you keep showing up.

And if you’re listening to this, it means you’re doing just that.

You’ve been jamming with Milena. Keep practising, stay cool, and keep in touch. Until next time, hasta la próxima!

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