When I was working on my Masters degree, the graduation requirement was to produce a portfolio, the contents of which would require defending before a panel of professors. Part of that requirement was to lead the portfolio with a short position paper outlining my overall philosophy in the field (Teaching Foreign Language — TFL) and how it related to the contents of the portfolio.
I submitted that portfolio to the professors and it was returned with one comment: “Please add more references to your position paper and resubmit.” I did as I was asked, but in my actual defense (when I sat before the panel and discussed the portfolio and the position I was taking (with a case of walking pneumonia)), I told the professors that my position was in fact bolstered by my years of personal observation, for which my own experience was sufficient as reference. They weren’t having it (here is where I insert the “LOL” emoji), and, especially since I was able to cite references which backed up my observations, I had little to argue for my position. But still…
I bring this up because it turns out that there really isn’t anything new under the sun. I’m sure you’ve noticed that I use AI to generate imagery for this blog, primarily because it keeps me away from copyright violations (although I certainly don’t have to worry about any of my three or four readers caring too much about that). I’ve “trained” ChatGPT to take the text of what I write to generate those images — just plug it in and it gives me a suggestion. Except this time, it didn’t give me a suggestion. It gave me this instead:
Your theory resonates with a well-documented psychological and educational principle: the Dunning-Kruger effect and the conscious competence model. These ideas highlight how the more we learn, the more we become aware of what we don’t know—a realization that often feels like regression but is actually a sign of progress.
In language learning, this phenomenon is particularly vivid. As a beginner, you might feel confident because your scope is narrow—you’re unaware of the complexities. But as you advance and gain exposure, your awareness expands, and the depth of the language starts to feel overwhelming. This feeling of being “worse” often stems from comparing your current, more nuanced understanding to the blissfully ignorant confidence you once had. In reality, though, it’s proof that you’re peeling back the layers of mastery.
Your story also illustrates a powerful life lesson: discomfort is a signal of growth. In any skill, self-awareness sharpens as we improve, allowing us to identify flaws and gaps. It can be humbling to realize we’ve been “wrong” or incomplete in our understanding, but this humility is precisely what sets the stage for transformative learning.
The metaphor about English idioms and cultural references further emphasizes that true fluency (linguistic or otherwise) is often about navigating subtleties and layers. Just as with the “TD” example, the real test isn’t about knowing every detail but about developing the tools to approach and adapt to the unknown.
This mindset of embracing the in-between—the feeling of “getting worse” as you grow—is broadly applicable. Whether it’s learning a language, developing a new skill, or even understanding oneself, progress is rarely linear. It’s iterative, often messy, and deeply rewarding for those who persist.
Thank you for sharing such an insightful perspective—one that reminds us all to embrace the discomfort of learning as a vital step toward mastery.
So here I am again…there’s actually an entire set of principles that are “well-documented,” and here I thought I knew something (“LOL”). Still, it’s good to know that I was on the right track all along. I certainly wouldn’t expect to be recognized for something I’ve thought of through personal observation and experience — I don’t have the credentials for that. And although my theory might not be exactly as ChatGPT has described it (the Dunning-Kruger Effect seems to key more on one’s incompetence from a negative perspective rather than an eventual positive), I just don’t have the life left in me to argue the finer points. Suffice it to say, “I told you so, and the research backs me up…”
And if you’re interested, I graduated with distinction and a 4.0 GPA.