Why You Still Can’t Speak English (Even After Years of Studying)

I’ve been learning English since I was in kindergarten. So why can’t I even speak a little? I must not be good at languages. When I speak, the words don’t come out right. I want to say what’s in my mind, but I don’t even know how. Maybe I have no chance of succeeding in this.

After experiencing all these questions, the scariest thing is when you start believing you cannot do it. The time you think you have spent learning, but got nothing, pulls your confidence down and makes you feel like you’re not good at it. But that’s not true, and here’s why.

Even after many years of learning, you still can’t speak. But that means nothing. Why? Because the time you spend learning does not equal the amount of progress you make. Those years were not spent on intentional learning. It wasn’t consistent, and you didn’t apply it to what you actually wanted to do. There’s a phrase I really like: do you have 10 years of experience, or have you just repeated the same year 10 times?

This also applies to our English learning journey. We’ve studied English from kindergarten to high school, even in university. Yes, that’s true. But how much did we actually gain from it? If we didn’t truly absorb anything, then the fact that you’ve been learning English for a decade shouldn’t be something that drags your confidence down.

It’s a false trap to tell yourself that you’re not good at English or that you don’t have a talent for languages. That’s not even close to the truth. Yes, we “learned” English, but did we really learn? Or did we just attend classes, take exams, and eventually let it all slip away?

So first, you need to change your belief. Then, truly learn how to speak. Time matters when you use it intentionally, with clear plans and purpose. That’s when you’ll start to accumulate real experience and actually improve. Do it effectively, and do it consistently.

I still believe everyone can be whoever they want and build whatever they want to become.

Written and posted by Sirathikarn 
EngWithWen