It's been such a long time since I've used English to communicate with others. I do consume English media every day and sometimes even talk to myself in English (just quarantine things ;D) but I realized, that my speaking skills have gotten pretty rusty.
I'm afraid I'm slowly but surely approaching fossilization. My biggest goal in life is to be fluent in multiple languages, but at this rate I'm not so sure if this will come true. Although I might me overreacting, because I've been focusing more on other languages, so maintaining my English skills has not been a priority. My main concern is that I don't know how to make progress in English. I don't think there's much I could learn from textbooks or language courses as I am kind of proficient in writing. I would have to practice my pronunciation and speaking by talking with other people but then social anxiety kicks in. I really like Robin McPherson's approach to language learning. I guess I shouldn't be disheartened by this regression of my skills. I still have plenty of time to make progress.
Have you ever felt frustrated by your (lack of) language skills? How do you deal with regressing language skills?
Hello Busra. I feel exactly the same as you, but in French. I am also a bit shy but I started using Tandem and messaged people rather than speaking to them. I listen to the radio and podcasts everyday and also watch television/Youtube in my target language.
I have been very frustrated in the past but am now happy with the fact that language learning is a lifelong pursuit and I am just enjoying the process. English is my native language but I still find new words every week!
Yeah, language learning is not a race and as you said you should just enjoy the process. I did use some language exchange apps before but then stopped after having some uncomfortable experiences with the people on there (you know, the ones who come there for dating and not for learning lol). I guess this could be a new start for me and will hopefully give me enough courage to tackle more demanding tasks. Good luck to you with French! At some point, I want to refresh my highschool French, too. Thank you for your encouraging message! :)
Please excuse me for not leaving any corrections since I am not a native English speaker. We seem to be at a similar point in regards with English - I am also currently not actively learning English, but merely using English. Your post inspired me to reflect on my own relationship with English; I posted about it under the heading "İngilizce ve ben". İyi günler!