Flow: Image: Cea. via FlickrAs a teacher in Japan, I was surprised by how many people want to be able to speak English like a native speaker. Tetsuya 'Ted' Yasukochi of 東進ハイスクール has noticed it too:

"Strangely, almost everybody learning English in Japan, even beginners, wants to be like a native speaker, and some people are ashamed of speaking English which is even a little bit short of that of a native speaker."

According to Yasukochi-sensei, most people in Japan spend their English lives waiting for a day that will never come — the day they speak English perfectly. Most people will never be able to speak English like a native speaker. Even Mr Yasukochi himself admits that he will probably never be able to speak English like a native speaker. It's an impossible dream. David Thayne of AtoZ English agrees:

Part 45 of the Poligo Guide to Learning a Language.

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SECTION 4: This section explains how to divide the language into smaller parts and how to learn each part.

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From the last part, we understand why people stop improving when they get to the high-intermediate level. If you decide to continue with your language, there are four ways you can make sure that you continue to improve. If you use these four methods, you can be sure that your language skills will get as close to native-level as possible.

1. Change the things you learn;
2. Change your sources;
3. Learn to write well;
4. Analyse your own speaking.

Part 44 of the Poligo Guide to Learning a Language.

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SECTION 4: This section explains how to divide the language into smaller parts and how to learn each part.

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When you reach the advanced level, you are basically fluent in a language. You will be able to speak quite easily in the language in most situations. So what should you do next? For some people, this level of language is more than enough. If you reach this level, think again about your reasons for studying the language. You might find that you reached your goal. In that case, congratulations!

20050809_eiger_monch_24: Image: Ai@ce via FlickrPart 43 of the Poligo Guide to Learning a Language.

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SECTION 4: This section explains how to divide the language into smaller parts and how to learn each part.

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After some time (and it can be a very long time) at the intermediate level, you will feel that you learning has slowed down. You will begin to plateau. It might be that you are reaching the advanced level. When you are advanced in a language, you need change your strategies to continue to improve your language skills.

Before we talk about the techniques you should use when you are advanced, let's check if you are advanced. If most of these following points are true, you are advanced: