Training for Success: What Language Learners Can Learn from Athletes

Verím, že viacerí z vás sa v určitej fáze života venovali nejakému športu. Či už to bol beh, plávanie, jóga alebo futbal. A práve preto by som učenie sa cudzieho jazyka (jeho úrovne a očakávané výsledky) rada vysvetlila pripodobnením k športovým aktivitám. Pretože, či už chceme alebo nie, pravidelný tréning je dôležitý pri oboch spomínaných činnostiach.

You might already be familiar with language levels, but let’s briefly review them.

Source:

https://sk.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spolo%C4%8Dn%C3%BD_eur%C3%B3psky_referen%C4%8Dn%C3%BD_r%C3%A1mec_pre_jazykov%C3%A9_znalosti

Why am I focusing on language levels? Throughout my extensive practice, I constantly encounter unrealistic expectations from students, which often lead to frustration when their expectations and learning methods don’t align with their goals.

Let’s return to the analogy between learning a language and sports, and consider language levels in the context of football.

Level A could be compared to the informal football games children play on the street. They meet, kick the ball around, and shoot at a goal with minimal use of football skills and knowledge of the rules. Despite this, such play has its charm, providing enjoyment, contributing to overall fitness, and improving physical condition.

English is like sports: the more seriously you take it, the greater places it can take you!

Translating this to learning a foreign language: if your goal is to use the language casually in informal situations with limited rules, great. You can reach this level relatively easily on your own, for example, through apps and occasional lessons with a tutor, or simply by exchanging a few phrases in a store or with a neighbour or colleague. But remember, relying solely on language apps is like playing a video game. Even if you can score like Messi in the game, you wouldn’t expect to play an entire match like him after just hours of game play. So why expect the same when learning a foreign language?

Moving on to Level B, we can compare it to an amateur football club. Playing at this level requires a broader range of techniques, good fitness, regular training sessions, and perhaps even a coach. Similarly, if you’ve reached this level in language learning through school, a course, or diligent self-study, it means you know the rules and have a decent vocabulary. You try to follow the rules and use your vocabulary, but it doesn’t always come out right in real communication. You know what grammatical structure to use, but in crucial moments, you lose control and end up with a different sentence. However, you can manage, you correct yourself, and explain further. It’s not a smooth, straightforward path, but the important thing is that you get your point across.

In recreational or amateur sports, you wouldn’t expect to reach the Olympics after two or three years of casual play and training. If someone told you that, you’d probably think they’re out of touch or need to change their approach. The same applies to learning a language in your free time and sporadically. If a foreign language isn’t your priority or part of your daily life, don’t expect to easily navigate any topic in any situation.

Now, let’s talk about Level C, the aspirational goal for nearly every student. This represents elite sports, where you follow a systematic plan with regular training that includes a variety of drills and activities. You study matches, analyse opponents' techniques, work with a psychologist, and likely follow a meticulously planned diet and sleep schedule to achieve peak performance. It’s not just about kicking a ball and running around the field. Every detail plays a crucial role, and success depends on the minutiae.

Similarly, if you want to speak a foreign language fluently and discuss almost any topic with ease, you need to make language learning a priority and integrate it into your life. It requires systematic study and, above all, a variety of sources, techniques, and activities. Just having conversation classes on casual topics won’t get you there. Those sessions are like someone giving you a lawn and tossing you a ball. Professional athletes wouldn’t thank such a coach.

So if you ever feel frustrated with your language performance, consider asking yourself:

Check if your answers align or if there’s a discrepancy. If you want to enjoy learning and using the language, get organized and make changes—adjust your goals, start learning in new ways, and incorporate the language into your life. You might be wondering how long it will take to move to a different or higher league. But that’s a topic for another article. For now, as they say in English, ‘enjoy the ride’.