When I saw this week’s topic, I did not know what to write. I already wrote many things about studying and staying motivated, so I thought I had nothing new to say. Then I tried to think in a different way, and I got this idea: “Next year, I want to be someone who can make mistakes.”

At first, this idea sounds strange. You might think, “Why should I make mistakes? I want to speak my target language well!” Many learners feel embarrassed when they make a mistake. We want to be perfect right away, even when we are still learning. But this is impossible, and it actually slows us down. Here are four reasons why making mistakes is good for your learning.

Mistakes show you what to learn
No matter where you are in your learning journey, you probably have an idea of what you should study. Maybe a teacher told you, or you watched someone online and followed their method. But sometimes that method doesn’t work for you. We all learn differently. Mistakes, however, show you exactly what you need to improve. They also help you understand which study methods work the best for you.

Mistakes help your brain remember
Research says that when you make a mistake and correct it, your brain remembers the information better. So the more mistakes you make, the stronger your memory becomes. Do not be shy. Speak in simple or broken English, French, Spanish, etc. This is part of learning!

Perfection stops progress
My father once told me, “Only dead people don’t make mistakes.” It means that if you never try because you want to be perfect, you will never grow. I sometimes think, “If I cannot be the best, why try?” but I remind myself that learning is a journey. Being perfect is not the goal. If your culture sees mistakes as something bad, try practicing with someone who makes you feel safe and comfortable.

The power of a safe environment
When you learn in a place where mistakes are welcome, you feel more confident. You can try new grammar, new words, or new kinds of sentences. This helps you learn faster and feel braver. And even if you make a funny mistake, it becomes a good story. (Ask me someday about how I mixed up “human meat” and garlic in Japanese…)

I don’t usually like New Year’s resolutions, but “making mistakes” is one I can support. You don’t even need extra effort. You already make them every day, and that is a good thing!

B1/B2 VERSION

When I first saw this week’s theme, I wasn’t sure what direction to take. I’ve already written many columns about how to study and how to stay motivated, so I felt like I had nothing new to add. Then I looked at the topic from another angle and thought, “Next year, I want to be someone who can make mistakes.”

It sounds strange at first. You might think, “Why would I aim to make mistakes? I want to use my target language correctly!” Many learners feel embarrassed when they make an error. We expect ourselves to be instantly fluent, even though that’s impossible. And this pressure actually prevents us from improving. Here are four reasons why making mistakes should be one of your goals for next year.

Mistakes show you where to focus
Wherever you are in your learning journey, you probably have some idea of what you “should” study. Maybe a teacher gave you advice, or perhaps you followed a popular method online. But sometimes these approaches don’t work, and that can feel discouraging. The truth is that everyone learns differently. Mistakes, however, give you very clear information. They show you your weak points, help you understand which methods work best for you, and point you toward what you should practice next.

Mistakes help you learn more deeply
Cognitive research shows that when you make a mistake and correct it, your brain creates stronger memories than when you simply get the answer right on the first try. So the more mistakes you make, the more durable your learning becomes. This is why speaking imperfect English, French, or Spanish is not only okay but beneficial.

Perfection slows you down
My father likes to say, “The only people who don’t make mistakes are the dead.” And he is right — if you never act because you want to be perfect, you stop yourself from growing. I’m a perfectionist myself, so I often catch myself thinking, “If I can’t be the best, why try?” But I remind myself that learning is about the journey, not perfection. And if you come from a culture where mistakes are seen as something shameful, try practicing with someone you trust and feel comfortable with.

Mistake-friendly environments boost confidence
Learning with the right person or in the right environment can help you take more risks. You are more willing to ask questions, try new grammar structures, and experiment with new vocabulary. This bravery often leads to faster learning and more confidence. And even when you make a funny mistake, it simply becomes a good story to laugh about later. (Ask me someday about the time I confused “human meat” with garlic in Japanese…)

I usually say I dislike New Year’s resolutions, but “making more mistakes” is one I can fully support. After all, it takes no extra effort. You’re already doing it — and your learning is better for it.

C1+ VERSION

When I first saw this week’s theme, I wasn’t sure what I was going to write about. After all, I’ve written a lot about how to study, keep your motivation, etc.  I felt like I had nothing else to add to the subject.  Then, I decided to look at this subject from a different angle and came up with this idea: “Next year, I want to be someone who can make mistakes.”

At first glance, this looks weird. “Why would I strive to make mistakes? I want to learn to speak my target language properly!” you might think, and you wouldn’t be alone.  Many learners, including myself, feel shame when they make a mistake.  Although we’re in the process of acquiring new knowledge, we expect instant, perfect fluency.  Not only is that unrealistic, but it also prevents us from learning even more.  Below are four reasons why you should aim to make as many mistakes as possible next year.

Mistakes as a guide
Wherever you might be in your learning journey, you probably have a general idea of what you should learn.  Maybe a teacher told you this was the right way to learn, or you’ve heard an influencer say that this or that is the key to mastering your target language, and, lacking any other guide, you chose to follow that advice.  This might have left you feeling discouraged, since the method you chose didn’t work.  The reality is that we all learn differently and at our own pace, so there is no “one size fits all” approach. Mistakes, however, are reliable guides that tell you exactly what your weak points are and, consequently, what you should focus on to improve. They can also show you what learning methods work best for you. In other words, if you don’t make any, you’re missing out on growth opportunities.

Mistaking your way to a deeper understanding
According to cognitive research, the brain creates stronger neural connections when we make a mistake and correct it than when we simply get the correct answer on the first try. In other words, the more mistakes you make, the more likely you are to build a stronger, long-lasting memory.  So don’t be shy to speak in broken English, French, Spanish, etc. It’s an essential part of the learning process!

Perfection: the enemy of progress
I believe I once mentioned in a previous column that my father likes to say, “The only people who don’t make mistakes are the dead.”  Of course, they don’t do much of anything, but that’s the point; they’re beyond progress.  If you don’t take action because you fear not being perfect, then you might as well be dead.  Perfection might be attractive, but it’s an unrealistic goal, as well as a great excuse not to make any efforts. As a perfectionist, I often catch myself thinking, “If I can’t be the best at this, what’s the point of trying?” but then I remind myself that the journey matters more than the end goal.  Striving for perfection can be a difficult habit to overcome, especially if your culture views mistakes negatively. In that case, I recommend finding someone you feel comfortable making mistakes with to practice until you feel more confident. (Confident doesn’t mean perfect!!)

The benefits of mistake-friendly environments
As I mentioned in number 3, finding the right person or environment can be a way to defeat perfectionism.  By doing so, you are more likely to ask questions, take risks like using grammar you’re less familiar with or exploring new sentence structures.  This “learner’s bravery often leads to faster language acquisition and more confidence.  And even if you make a funny mistake, it’ll only become a good story to tell later. (Ask me about how I once confused “human meat” and garlic in Japanese the next time we have a lesson together…)

As I’ve said numerous times in previous columns, I don’t like New Year’s resolutions; however, “making mistakes” is one I can get behind.  After all, it requires zero effort and, in fact, you’re already doing it!