Language learning is an endurance sport, and we all need a little encouragement along the way.
If you’re in a rut, struggling to move to the next level or just need a gentle push to start your study session for the day, let my Tao of Language Learning set you on your way. “A good traveler has no fixed plan, and is not intent on arriving.” – Laozi
If you are learning a language, listen to it, observe it, quietly, until you notice the patterns, phrases and words.
The language is like a forest, with trees, branches and leaves. These are the patterns, phrases and words of the language.
If you are in a forest, stop to hear the branches move, listen to the rustling of the leaves, and observe them, quietly.
Do not talk while you are observing the forest or you will miss something. At first you cannot discern the subtlety of the language, you do not hear, you do not notice.
But you must continue, not resisting, but patiently waiting until the branches, twigs and leaves become clearer and clearer, until the language reveals itself to you.
You do not need to rely on teachers. Your experiences as a learner will teach you all you need to know.
Before you can speak, you must listen, and you must listen a lot, without resisting.
Absorb the language. Feel its essence, its rhythm and flow.
Feel the power of the language, more and more, limitless in its ability to express the grandest or the most sublime meaning.
We are small compared to the forest, and small compared to the language. We are just visitors. We should be humble.
Do not be in a hurry or you will never reach your goal.
Do not seek to hack the language. You cannot.
Do not seek to master the language. Do not fight the language or it will defeat you. If you devote yourself to the language, you will be rewarded.
Just enjoy feeling its wisdom and expressive power grow, the power of ages.
If you hurry you will be delayed. If you tarry you will reach your goal. You will know when you are ready to speak. There is no need to rush.
If you are in a hurry to speak, a few days will seem too long. If you respect the language, three years will be too short.
The fewer ambitions and fears you have, the sooner you will learn.
Forget who you are and where you came from, the language does not care. Let the language sink into your mind, in all of its variety and richness.
Do not try to speak until you are ready. You will know when you are ready. The language will tell you.
When you speak,take pride in the language and just let it come out.
Only a vain fool strives for perfection.
Whatever language you are learning, it is everywhere. You can find it without going outside your door. You can bring your language with you wherever you are.
You do not need to ask others how you look. Don’t wait for others to correct you.
Continue to learn with the intensity of a child at play.
Accept what you have achieved and you will achieve more.
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9 comments on “Motivational Language Quotes: The Tao of Language Learning”
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Thanks a lot. Very useful and interesting text.
Great post– very inspiring! We all need to relax and see the picture when we’re learning a new language. It’s so easy to get caught up in how slow things are going and to focus on the words we don’t know yet.
I loved these quotes they are fantastic! my favourite: “Do not fight the language or it will defeat you.” I just keep imagining Bruce Lee kicking a German text book across the room.
Love this!
I appreciate the cheerleaders like Bennie to get people motivated to just start learning a language, because so many people get discouraged by high school Spanish class. But after you start rolling, its time to mature and follow the wisdom in this article.
When I first started learning Portuguese, I tried different methods. I was trying to force learn words. It was so much work and I could barely recalled anything. But then instead of fighting all the time, I just got ‘lazy’. If I am reading something or watching something and I see a word that looks interesting or comes up frequently or seems important, I look it up and then look for it again in the future. Seems like I need exposure to the same word about 5 times. Bit by bit, more and more gets clearer. I was stressing out about not speaking much, but then I realized my brain was resisting it and it had to be in the right mood for it! Now I have times when I suddenly am able to say alot, I can tell a little story about something. A half hour later, I can’t speak again. But I won’t worry about it anymore….just go with the flow! Its only a speaking ‘problem’ if I think its a ‘problem’ .
Hi,
Going with thhe flow… this is the Secret! Have you been learning Portuguese?
Sanderson Lima – Brazil
Amazing list! Great comparison with a forest, I like this quote the most.
Just beautiful.
Those are great language quotes, that I really enjoyed reading. I have always loved learning new quotes. Thanks for sharing.
You have posted awesome images which we can use in our day to day life and can help us stand again after deep failure. Really helpful and appealing!! Thanks