What is a language barrier?
A language barrier is the inability of a person who knows a foreign language at a certain level to communicate freely in it. As a rule, the emergence of a language barrier is a psychological problem, not a linguistic one.
Often the language barrier appears at the stage when you already have a command of grammar, vocabulary, and can easily write the necessary text and read it.
What are the reasons for the language barrier?
Fear:
The emergence of fear in communication is often associated with negative experience of using the language. For example, someone asked you a question quickly and indistinctly, and you were confused. Friends with good intentions try to help and correct your speech errors, this can also block an attempt to express yourself in a foreign language.
Inability to use knowledge:
This is a consequence of the “translation” approach to language learning: you study in Russian, translate everything from Russian to Polish, and as a result, there is at least as much Russian speech in lessons as Polish.
As a result, you may have a large passive vocabulary, and almost no active vocabulary. The same with grammar - you may know all the grammar rules, but find it difficult to apply them in practice.
How to overcome the language barrier:
Positive communication experience:
First, try to choose pleasant interlocutors. Visit various events, conversation clubs. During a break or after the event, approach the most pleasant person for you, ask him about anything - this is how positive experience will accumulate.
Secondly, share your successes. Learned a new topic, read a block in a textbook, listened to an audio or video lesson - tell your friends about it. While you are telling, you will understand it even better.
Difficulty level:
You should start communicating with people who are on the same level as you, or even a level slightly lower. You will see that the person opposite you is also having a hard time and he will certainly not make high demands on you.
When you start to understand that you speak fluently, find a foreigner. Maybe it will be psychologically easier with a German, Frenchman, Finn - for whom the language is also not native. And then further improve the level to native speakers.
Don't be ashamed of your mistakes:
Remember that no one is evaluating your level of Polish, no one will judge you. Moreover, most foreigners, on the contrary, will say: "Oh, what great Polish you have!" Because the average level of Polish among foreigners in Poland is quite low.
It is no secret that native speakers make mistakes too. Open the comments to any Facebook or YouTube post in Polish and you will see a large number of illiterate statements. Are you still worried that you used the wrong ending in a word?
Think in Polish:
Try to say phrases in Polish when you are busy with your daily activities. You can do it out loud or “to yourself”.
Use your wits:
If your vocabulary and grammar are limited, learn to explain complex things in simple words.
Remember – all your fears can be overcome, and all problems can be solved, the main thing is your desire!
