It has been said many times that ‘the more we learn, the more we realise how little we know’. This sounds a little frustrating for anyone who wants to be perfect. I recently watched the TED Talk given by Sarah Lewis in which she discusses the ‘near-win’, a situation where we don’t get everything right, we make mistakes and she suggests that perhaps this can be what motivates us to continue to improve and that can be a sign or part of a person’s character.
Clearly, perfection does not exist. Anyone who wants to learn to speak ‘perfect' English - accurate, exact and correct in every detail (just one of many definitions) - is going to be disappointed. There are so many versions of English around the world, who can say which one is correct and perfect? English also continues to grow and evolve with technology and trends so that it is never quite finished - another concept connected with the word ‘perfect’. Noticing our mistakes and difficulties when communicating in another language can be exactly what we need to indicate to us what we need to learn next - it gives us direction in our studies.
Each time we communicate we can enjoy a moment of success. A series of successes with attention to continuous improvement can lead to mastery of a language, which might be described as an ability to communicate ideas and concepts in any normal situation you encounter, be that in business or pleasure. Maintaining that mastery is an ongoing process which requires continuous effort as we continue to meet with new situations. It also requires an awareness of your past, present and future situations so that you can monitor your development and prepare for what is coming.