We often talk about learning new words when we are building our vocabulary in another language, but which words do you want to stop using in the next weeks and months?
I first heard this question in relation to our general vocabulary. Which words or phrases do we want to stop saying because they don’t serve us? Maybe things about ourselves, what we can or can’t do, how our lives are, who we are, or how other people see us. Those negative words that don’t serve us, but which we repeat because saying them has become a habit and we’ve even started to believe them.
It’s a good question! I think we all have some phrases that we could delete from our active vocabulary and our lives would be much better. I know that I do and I’m working on it…
But how about in terms of learning languages?
“Sorry for my (insert name of language)”
“my … isn’t very good”
“I can’t …” – even though you’re doing the thing!
“I hope you understand me” when it’s clear that people do…
I don’t like to hear people saying these things, but I’ve done it myself with other languages. Especially in an introduction, the last thing you want to do is lead with something that draws attention to you in a negative way.
Or even “I don’t know!”
Sometimes it’s good to say that. It’s much better to say you don’t know something than to pretend that you do.
But I use it in other, less helpful ways. I use it when I actually do know, but I don’t feel confident enough to say the thing that I’m thinking because I’m not sure how it will be received. Or I say it in language class about the answer that I’m only 85% sure of because I don’t want to be wrong…
Which words do you want to banish from your active vocabulary?
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