Stop Simplifying What You Want to Say - unless You Want to Slow Down your Progress

The biggest struggle I see with most of my advanced students is striking a balance between passive exposure to new structures and making them actually use them or do mistakes.

I'll go straight to the point: the issue is keeping simplifying your language even after you've reached a decent level.

I find it a real plague, very widespread among internationals in Brussels in general. I cannot speak about the expat-bubbles elsewhere, but here I have the feeling that the language proficiency level is dramatically low. And what's worse is that probably people don't even realise it.

Simple Language Brings Poor Thoughts

The danger of simplification lies not just in linguistic stagnation, but in its impact on cognitive processes. When we consistently opt for simpler language, we unconsciously limit the complexity of our thoughts. This phenomenon can even have far-reaching consequences.

Consider the following:

1. Vocabulary atrophy: By relying on a limited set of words, we hinder our opportunities to acquire a more nuanced and rich vocabulary, which is always a very hard thing to do

2. Structural monotony: Simplifying sentence structures leads to repetitive patterns, often making our conversations dull and boring

3. Cultural disconnection: Language isn't just about words; it's a gateway to cultural understanding. Having a richer vocabulary is a fundamental key to this knowledge

4. Professional limitations: Settling for simplicity may also hinder career progression. I think there may be a willingness from certain employers to keep employees relatively ignorant or keep a very low level of interactions among the workers on purpose. If you lack nuances, you may also overlook some clues that can help you with office politics

5. Reduced critical thinking: Complex language often correlates with more sophisticated thought processes. Think about it the next time someone else is taking decisions at your place abroad just because you choose to keep your language skills to the bare minimum.

Breaking the Simplification Cycle

To overcome this plateau, consider these strategies:

1. Conscious complexity: Deliberately use more advanced vocabulary and structures in everyday conversations. That's a typical exercise I give to my students after a class: choose the five most interesting words and make a sentence with each one while purposely trying to experiment with the language

2. Active engagement: Seek out native speakers or advanced learners for regular, challenging discussions. Check out the comments under social media posts, get out of the events for expats only

3. Media immersion: Consume original media in your target language that pushes your linguistic boundaries – academic journals, literature, or specialized podcasts. Privilege what's interesting for you - as always

4. Writing challenges: Start a blog or journal in the target language, focusing on expressing complex ideas. You just need to really care about what you choose as a topic

5. Public speaking: Join language clubs or give presentations in your target language to force yourself out of your comfort zone. Be ambitious!

6. Teach others: Nothing cements knowledge like teaching. That's another typical exercise of mine: tell me about what you've learned from x, y, z...

The Role of Metacognition

Developing metacognitive skills – thinking about your thinking – is crucial in this process. Have you ever assessed your language use?

- Are you automatically reaching for simpler words?

- Do you avoid certain grammatical structures out of habit?

- How often do you challenge yourself to express complex ideas?

By cultivating this self-awareness, you can actively work to expand your linguistic horizons. Does it feel intimidating?

Slow. Down.

Speak slower, double-check a message before sending it. Make space for reflection in your language learning routine.