Gabrielle asks: "When I don't understand, I often just smile, nod, and pretend I do. How can I stop this?"

Episode Summary:

• Is it normal to pretend you understand?
• Every language learning journey starts like this
• Persistence is the name of the game

In terms of stages, here's how I see it:

• Lower level: You still have a lot to learn, so don't be surprised if you don't understand. Keep studying. Have conversations with sympathetic listeners.
• Higher level: This is the stage where you need to get used to the vocabulary of everyday life, especially if you've been in "study mode" for a long time. Speak as much as possible, and focus on the situation/conversation, not the language. Record your conversations and analyse them later.

Remember:

• You don't need to understand everything
• Keeping the conversation going is key
• Make general points
• Tell stories
• Ask