0215 How Perfectionism Can Help You Learn a Language

How Perfectionism Can Help You Learn a Language

完璧主義を語学学習に役立てるには

Perfectionism — setting extremely high standards for yourself — has a bad name in language learning. For example, a perfectionist might try too hard to avoid making mistakes while learning a language, which might make them afraid to speak and slow down their learning.

Some research has also found that perfectionism in language learners is associated with poorer development of language skills.

If you're a perfectionist, you might find that discouraging. After all, perfectionism is a character trait, and realistically we can't completely change who we are.

The good news is, you don't need to. Perfectionism can actually help you learn a language if you use it the right way.

Psychologists have known for some time that there are actually two kinds of perfectionism: negative and positive.

Negative perfectionism is setting standards that are too high, and being too influenced by fear of failure. But positive perfectionism is setting goals that are high but still realistic, and being more focused on the sense of achievement and confidence those goals can give you.

Negative perfectionism will make you feel pressured and stressed, but positive perfectionism will encourage you.

So, to use perfectionism to help your language learning, the trick is to focus more on the progress you're making instead of trying to aim for "perfect."

In a 2018 study, Toshinori Yasuda of Waseda University gives the example of someone making a language learning plan by listing all the things they need to do. If they look at the whole list, they might think, "It's too much!" and give up.

However, if they stop for a moment and think, "I can do these things, one by one," they can focus on their progress and enjoy each achievement as they complete it.

A 2025 study from Malaysia also found that perfectionism can help language learners — if they are kinder to themselves, and remember that making mistakes is a normal and necessary part of language learning.