A frank look at the one thing holding British learners back - and it’s not grammar Press enter or click to view image in full size Right. I’m going to be honest with you. If you’ve ever been learning a language and caught yourself apologizing mid-sentence, you’ve already lost. You probably know the feeling. You’re in a café in Barcelona, or a classroom in Paris, and you’re about to say something. Then your very British brain kicks in: Better apologize first. Make it clear I know my French is rubbish. Set expectations low. Be humble. By the time you’ve finished softening the ground with apologies, you’ve mentally exhausted yourself. And you haven’t actually said anything yet. This is what I’m calling the Politeness Tax, and if you’re British, it’s probably costing you more than a year of Duolingo. Your Brain is Already Full Here’s the thing about learning a language: your brain is running at absolute maximum capacity.…