Hey there! This is TOP episode 271. Perfectionism is Holding Your English Back
Are you tired of lacking confidence when speaking English? Does it block you from achieving your true goals? This podcast is the place for you. This is Teacher Ola Podcast. My name’s Ola Mierniczak and I empower English learners to become confident speakers. The key to fluency is in your pocket. You’ll boost your vocabulary, brush up your grammar and improve your pronunciation. Enjoy your journey to fluency!
Hello! Thank you for choosing this episode! Let’s talk about something we’ve all been guilty of at some point: perfectionism. Yep, that little voice in your head saying, “What if I mess up? What if I sound stupid? What if they laugh at me?” Ugh, it’s the worst, right? But here’s the thing: perfectionism might seem like it’s pushing you to do your best, but when it comes to learning a language, it’s actually your biggest enemy.
Chapter One. Mistakes are your best friend
First of all, let’s get one thing straight: making mistakes is not just okay—it’s necessary. When you’re learning English (or any language), mistakes are how you figure out what works and what doesn’t. Think about babies learning to walk. They stumble, they fall, but do they stop trying? Nope. They keep going until they can strut around like little bosses. Same goes for language learning. If you’re too scared to mess up, you’re holding yourself back from learning all the cool stuff that comes after the mistakes. So make a promise right here right now. Say it out loud, repeat after me: I will make mistakes and it’s totally fine because that’s how I learn. Once again! No cheating, say it out loud: I will make mistakes, and it’s totally fine because that’s how I learn.
Chapter two. Overthinking = Overwhelming
Ever feel like you’ve got so many thoughts racing through your brain that you just freeze up? Like, you’re trying to form the perfect sentence in your head, but by the time you’re ready, the conversation has already moved on? That’s what perfectionism does—it makes you second-guess every single word. Newsflash: people don’t care if you don’t say everything perfectly. They want to understand you. Hear your message. And trust me, the more you speak, the easier it gets. So, promise me this. Say it out loud, right now: I’ll just say what’s on my mind and trust that it’s good enough.
Chapter three. Perfectionism can be exhausting
Let’s be real: trying to be perfect all the time is draining. If you’re constantly beating yourself up because you used the wrong tense or couldn’t remember a word, you’re going to get tired of learning pretty quickly. And where’s the fun in that? Learning a language is supposed to be exciting, like unlocking a superpower. Don’t let perfectionism suck the joy out of it.
Now, take a deep breath and say this with me:
Language learning is about joy and discovery.
Chapter four. It’s not about being perfect—it’s about being understood
Here’s a little secret: nobody cares if your grammar isn’t perfect, as long as they understand what you’re saying. Think about it: when your favorite celebrity or influencer speaks a second language, are you picking apart their grammar? Nope, you’re probably impressed that they’re trying at all! The same goes for you.
So repeat after me:
Communication comes first. As long as people understand me, I’m winning!
Chapter five: Perfectionism kills creativity
Ever stop yourself from trying out a cool new word or expression because you weren’t 100% sure you’d get it right? That’s perfectionism getting in the way again. Learning a language is all about experimenting, playing around, and yes, sometimes sounding a little goofy. But guess what? That’s how you grow. If you’re too busy worrying about getting it perfect, you miss out on the fun part—just going for it.
Look, I get it. Wanting to do well is normal. But chasing perfection is like trying to catch a cloud. It’s never going to happen, and you’re just going to stress yourself out. So instead of aiming to be perfect, aim to make progress. Celebrate the little wins, like finally remembering that word or having a short conversation. You’ve got this, and I’m here cheering for you every step of the way. Remember: progress over perfection, always. So go out there, mess up a little, laugh at yourself, and keep learning. That’s how you’ll really crush it.
Now, let’s practice. Listen and repeat out loud:
I will make mistakes, and it’s totally fine because that’s how I learn.
It makes you second-guess every single word.
The more you speak, the easier it gets.
I’ll just say what’s on my mind and trust that it’s good enough.
Trying to be perfect all the time is draining.
Learning a language is supposed to be exciting
Language learning is about joy and discovery.
Nobody cares if your grammar isn’t perfect.
Communication comes first.
As long as people understand me, I’m winning!
Well done! Download the Worksheet from teacherola.com/271 or check your inbox, if you’ve subscribed to my newsletter you have the Worksheet in your inbox.
Thank you so very very much for being part of this podcast. If you can please rate my work. You can give me 5 stars on Spotify, a like on YouTube, a review on iTunes. This will help me sooo much!
One more thing! If you feel like you need to refresh Small Talk phrases with my Small Talk vocabulary list + audio for practicing pronunciation go ahead and grab it at teacherola.com/lista.
I believe in you, I know you can speak English with fluency IF you really want it! Stay fearless, take care and say it out loud! I’m your teacher, Teacher Ola, and you were listening to Teacher Ola Podcast. Bye for now.