Year 1 | Issue 1 | August 2025 | Anglo-Saxon®

By Juan Pablo Lagos Lazcano – Chile

Learning: A Natural Ability… With Real Struggles

Learning is one of the most fundamental human abilities. It allows us to adapt, grow, and overcome limitations. But just as common as learning itself is the experience of struggling to learn—especially when we need to memorize or understand something under pressure, like a phone number or an exam topic.

Now imagine this: what if the real reason we can’t learn isn’t our intelligence—but our anxiety?

• “What if catastrophizing is one of the main reasons we have trouble learning?”

What the Research Says

According to Torres (2021), anxiety significantly interferes with how we learn—especially when speaking a second language. In his study, learners who had to speak spontaneously felt high levels of nervousness, mostly due to fear of making mistakes.

These emotional reactions affect our attention, memory, and ability to retain new information—the building blocks of learning.

The Power of Catastrophic Thoughts

Anxiety often expresses itself through extreme and unrealistic thoughts. These are known as catastrophic thoughts, such as:

• “I’m going to fail!”
• “I’ll never learn this.”
• “I’m a disaster.”

These thoughts don’t reflect reality—they reflect emotion. And when they take over, they block your brain’s ability to absorb information and stay focused.

How to Cope: Mental & Emotional Tools

1. Recognize Your Thinking

The first step is awareness. Catch yourself when a catastrophic thought appears. Naming it gives you
distance and perspective.

2. Reframe the Thought

Take the negative belief and flip it. For example:
“I’m a disaster” → “I’m learning something difficult.”
Then ask: What’s the evidence for and against this thought?

3. Manage the Physical Symptoms

Anxiety often begins in the body. Simple techniques like deep breathing, relaxation, or gentle movement (like stretching or walking) can calm your system and help you return to focus.

4. Take Strategic Breaks

Use short breaks wisely—draw, take a walk, or read something light. Just avoid falling into procrastination.

5. Embrace Mistakes as Part of Growth

Speaking a new language means you’ll forget words, mix tenses, and feel awkward. That’s normal— and that’s how you grow. Focus on small wins and moments of courage.

Final Thoughts: Progress Over Perfection

The next time you’re in class, your heart racing at the thought of speaking English, remember this:

Feeling nervous is not a sign of failure—it’s a sign that you care.

Take a breath. Be kind to your thoughts. And celebrate every small success along the way.

You’re not just learning a language—you’re learning resilience.

Reference
Torres, C. (2021). The impact of anxiety on English language learning (Tesis para optar al grado de licenciado en inglés). Universidad de Valladolid. Read the study here .

– English Magazine