As I mentioned in one of my recent posts, the number one question I get when I tell people I learn languages as a hobby is… “So… Are you fluent?”
Language learners and monolingual speakers alike often hold fluency as a gold standard… but should it be?
Why Fluency Matters
There are a lot of reasons why reaching fluency might be important to someone. There are some practical reasons, for example, one might find themselves moving to a new country, needing to pass a language exam, or they’re interested in getting a job that requires employees to be proficient in a certain language.
But then there are also personal reasons why fluency may be important. Initially, I wanted to reach fluency in Irish because I did see it as an end goal to be met. Of course, I now know that there is no end point in learning languages. As my understanding increased and I inched closer to my initial goal, I found myself more motivated by a love of the language rather than a need to prove to myself I could be fluent. The more I learned, the more I wanted to know. Furthermore, it is nice for a language to feel easy and comfortable. I can unwind after a long day with a book in Irish. I can passively listen to a podcast and catch every word while cleaning around the house. I can talk with friends in Irish for hours without getting tired. For me, fluency feels safe, comfortable, secure.
Why Fluency Doesn’t Matter
Fluency is often used as a marker of success and status in language learning. But that thought can stand in the way of a lot of language learners success. I myself remember how much pressure I felt to reach fluency and to reach it quickly. I discredited any of my progress. I focussed on my mistakes. I was one of the lucky ones. I made it through that phase and came out the other side with a healthier mindset towards language learning. However, this is often what causes people to stop learning a language. I’ve often heard comments like “I studied this language every day in school. I should be fluent.”
As I’ve previously discussed, it often feels like the time we’ve spent learning a language is much greater than it really is. When we take a step back and look at how much time we’ve really spent, it can be easier to be gentle with ourselves. Furthermore, not everyone learns the same way. Not every class or resource is right for every person. It takes time to find what works. But we’ll never reach our goals or find what works for us if we stop trying. Focussing on fluency only can prevent us from enjoying the process. Even the most diligent language learner will spend years on their journey to fluency. We can either obsess over what we can’t yet do and keep putting pressure on ourselves to spend every waking second learning. (Until we inevitably burn our and end up giving…) Or we can focus on enjoying the process. I am far from fluent in Polish, but I enjoy reading simple stories, I have fun in my lessons, and I look forward to opportunities I have to use what I can. I don’t let my limitations keep me from enjoying the process, because the reality is, I’d rather be happy and have fun than be stressed and put pressure on myself to get fluent as fast as possible.
Those are some reasons why you shouldn’t focus on fluency, but for some people, fluency isn’t even a goal at all.
Fluency? No thanks.
I know plenty of people who love learning languages. Some of them don’t learn a language to know it inside and out, but rather they just like to learn a little of a lot of languages. They’re just curious. They love languages. They love picking them apart, seeing how they work, finding new words, learning new writing systems. There is so much more to enjoy about languages than just proffiency. I also know people who are extremely proficient in just one area. They love reading manga in the original Japanese, but could care less about having a conversation. Or they love listening and speaking, but never want to read or write a word in their lives. It’s important to remember that for most of us, language learning is a hobby. It’s supposed to be fun and enjoyable, whatever that looks like for us.
The question of fluency is often at the center of conversations about language learning. Yet, it’s important to consider whether fluency really should be the ultimate measure of success and our biggest goal. For a lot of us, the reasons we started learning a language weren’t to pass a test or get a job. It was because we felt a love and a connection to that language in some way. Maybe we wanted to learn more about our own heritage, connect with people from other cultures, or enjoy our favorite media in the language it was originally created in. Fluency can help us enjoy all of these aspects of the language with a sense of ease and comfort. However, focussing to much on fluency can create undue pressure and stress that only creates more distance between us and that original point of interest and love for the language leading us to stop learning all together. Instead, we can embrace the process, enjoy the journey and let our curiosity and passion carry us forward. For many of us, language learning isn’t about achieving some end goal, but exploring new cultures, uncovering knowledge, discovering our identity, and growing our confidence. So often we’re asked, “Are you fluent?” but it’s even more important to ask ourselves “Am I enjoying the journey?”
What are some of the reasons you enjoy learning languages? Share them in the comments below! And be sure to share this post with anyone who may enjoy it!
More from Foghlaimeoir:
Irish language version of this article
How to Actually Learn a Language in 2025
I have never slammed a read so fast in my life, excellent post! Fluency can mean so many different things depending on who you ask, and I know my own knowledge would seem incomplete to many, but I'm having a blast doing things my own way! Thanks for the post, it was really thought-provoking!
I completely agree that fluency is not the goal. English is my first language, and I am still not fluent in it. I’m constantly schooled by people with impressive vocabulary that I’ve never heard before.
I love the Irish language because of the true deep rooted meanings of the words. How they hold their words in a mysticism, and the mindset it can create.