This is the one-million-dollar question, that always pops into our mind when we are studying a new language. Well… unfortunately there isn’t a secret formula. 

Each person is different. Some find it easier to speak, while others are more comfortable with writing. A theoretical approach could be important as a start and then a more practical one could bring the best achievements. It’s all about choosing the right method that works for you. 

According to Language expert David Recine, start using the language is the best way to become fluent:

“My best advice on how to become fluent in a language is to use the language. And by this, I mean use your second language freely, naturally, and without fear of failure. Don’t wait until you think you’re fluent enough to use the language well. Don’t worry if you aren’t understood, or if you don’t understand what people say in reply; the first step toward real communication is to try to use what you’ve learned and see what happens.”

Source: takelessons.com

But before delving into it, let’s present our guest:

Lesley McMillan is a legal secretary at DAC Beachcroft, an international law firm. Lesley works in the city of London. She has been learning German for over 10 years and she continues practising it with  German & Hungarian Language coach Gabriella Ferenczi. 

As Lesley explains, she doesn’t learn German for work. Her motivation is very personal. In this ProLingua Global Podcast’s episode, Lesley talks with Gabriella about her German learning experience. She recalls what sort of challenges she faced as a student and working as an au-pair. And which challenges she continues to face.  

Despite having achieved a degree of fluency and spontaneity, Lesley continues studying German.  She admits that she still feels a bit insecure when it comes to writing. And she shares what aspects of German grammar can be quite tough sometimes: sentence structure, verbs ending or the use of articles can be a real head-scratcher. But her motivation to keep on learning and improving her skills is stronger. 

A super inspiring talk about Lesley’s language learning journey and what fluency actually means. If you are hungry for tips and you’re wondering what strategies have worked for her, then you should definitely tune in and listen.

Once you’ve had a chance to listen to it, we’d love to hear from you. What’s the biggest insight that you received from this conversation? What does fluency mean to you?

Let us know in the comments below.

And if it is your accent that you worry about? Then, check this one.