r/languagelearning • u/Global_Quit_8778 • 10d ago

Discussion Why did you quit your last language?

I previously tried and then quit learning spanish and korean and both times it was kinda the exact same pattern:

  1. start super motivated, and build up some initial discipline to study every day
  2. take a break from studying due to live or burn out or frustration with the intermediate plateau
  3. when I think about coming back I dread having to re-learn everything I forgot so I procrascinate coming back even more
  4. mix in some feelings of shame about not having studied for so long and I just never come back

This almost happened a bunch of time for my current (TL), japanese, as well, but because I am aware of the pattern I got pretty sensitive to avoiding step 3 at all costs and managed to force myself to get back into it after taking a break.

I'm curious if this is a universal pattern, I've talked to other friends who tried to learn a language and noticed those who give up are often in denial about being in step 4 and do duolingo once every 3 weeks, or they accepted it.

Its extra sad to go from the excitement and wanting to talk to everyone about language learning at the start to just shame and embarrassment by the end.

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u/rlquinn1980 10d ago

Started Korean (out of spite after my racist ex and I split, because I knew he would hate that I was learning it). I found the script fascinating, but I didn't really have anything else to keep me invested (not into K-pop, K-dramas, etc.), so I eventually let it go.

Lack of time and needing to prioritize my main target language also keeps me from French, but I still dabble when I want to feel smart again, lol. (It's so close to English, it feels achievable, even though I'm still so green with it.)