Stop Learning Lists of Words. Start Learning to Say What You Think.

Every few weeks, a student will ask me:“Can you give me a list of all the verbs?”“Do you have a complete list of vocabulary to memorize?”

I always smile. Sometimes I laugh. Not in a mean way, but because I completely understand the instinct—and because I’ve heard this so many times before.

But I always give the same answer: That’s not how language works.

You already know the words. You just don’t use them.

Here’s something I wish more learners understood: most people who come to me for an English course with CPF already know enough vocabulary to get by in most work or travel situations.

The problem isn’t what they know—it’s that they don’t feel comfortable saying it. They hesitate, they second-guess themselves, or worse: they say nothing.

This hesitation often comes from a false belief that they must "know everything" before they open their mouth. But language learning isn’t about being ready. It’s about being brave.

Vocabulary lists are safe—but they don’t lead to fluency

I get it. Memorizing lists feels productive. You can highlight words, tick them off, feel a sense of progress. But how many of those words will you actually remember next week? Or next month?

Worse, how many will you actually use in a conversation?

As I explained in my article Language and Memory: How We Retain Words and Phrases, the brain doesn’t retain information through passive exposure. It needs real-life context, spaced repetition, and emotional connection.

So if your goal is to speak English—not just recognize it—learning words in isolation is one of the least effective strategies.

“Just say something—anything!”

I had a student recently—let’s call him Marc. Marc had a decent vocabulary and could read English articles at work. But when it came time to speak in a meeting, he froze. Every time.

One day, during a session, I asked him a simple question. He stayed silent. After a few seconds, I smiled and said, half-joking:“Just say something! Anything!”

He laughed and blurted out a sentence. It wasn’t perfect. But it was real. He spoke. He communicated. And something shifted.

Since that session, Marc has been talking more freely—still with mistakes, but with less fear. And guess what? He’s improving faster than before.

That’s the power of real communication.

Learn like you live: in context

If you want to speak fluently, study the way your brain likes to learn.

Instead of memorizing, focus on real-life use:

• Speak out loud when you’re alone

• Watch your favorite shows and repeat lines

• Write short emails to your teacher or colleagues

• Talk to yourself in English when doing tasks

• Listen to podcasts while walking or cooking

• Use new words immediately after you learn them

You don’t need more flashcards. You need more action.

This is the heart of how I teach

Whether you’re doing E-learning, private tutoring in English, or a flexible English course with CPF in Vincennes, my goal is always the same:

✅ Help you feel comfortable speaking

✅ Focus on what matters for you

✅ Encourage you to make mistakes and keep going

✅ Show you how to use English in your real life

You don’t need more words. You need more uses of the words you already have.

If you feel stuck, frozen, or unsure, you're not alone—and you're not broken. You just need to change your approach.

Let's stop trying to learn everything and start learning what matters. And let’s practice it in real conversations, over time, until speaking English becomes second nature.

If you're ready, I'm here to help—with a personalized course, adapted to your level, goals, and rhythm.

👉 Book your first step or send me a message. I’d love to hear what you want to say.

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