14 English Phrases for Talking About the Experience of Learning
Whether you're learning a language, developing a new skill, or working through something difficult at work, the experience of learning tends to feel the same: messy, nonlinear, and sometimes hard to put into words.
This post gives you 14 phrases in English for talking about that experience, from the early stages of confusion all the way through to growing confidence and breakthrough moments. Each one comes with a definition and a natural example sentence.
These are the kinds of expressions that native speakers use in everyday conversation. Learning them will help you talk about your own experience more fluently and naturally.
Phrases for when you don't know where to start
The beginning of any learning journey can feel uncomfortable. These phrases capture that honest, effortful early stage.
I'm getting to grips with something
This means you're working to understand or manage something new, and it's taking effort. It suggests you're engaged and trying, even if you're not there yet.
I'm getting to grips with oil painting. I keep overworking the canvas.
I'm trying to get my head around something
You use this when something is complicated or unfamiliar and you're making a real effort to understand it. It's a natural, conversational phrase.
I'm trying to get my head around the new research methodology. It's quite different from what I'm used to.
I keep hitting a wall with something
This describes the frustrating experience of reaching the same point of difficulty again and again, no matter how hard you try.
I keep hitting a wall with this chapter. I know what I want to say but I can't find the right structure.
Phrases for when progress is slow but happening
These phrases describe the middle stage of learning — when things are moving, but slowly.
It's starting to click
When something clicks, understanding arrives. This phrase says you're not quite there yet, but you can feel it happening.
I've been learning piano for six months and the sight-reading is finally starting to click.
It's slowly sinking in
This means you're gradually absorbing and understanding something, not all at once. It's often used after taking in a lot of new information.
It was a lot to take in at the conference. It's slowly sinking in.
I'm picking it up gradually
This phrase is used when you're learning something in an informal, natural way, little by little, rather than through structured study.
I never took a formal photography course. I've just picked it up gradually over the years.
I'm finding my feet with something
You use this when you're becoming more comfortable and confident after an uncertain start. It suggests the difficult early stage is beginning to pass.
I'm finding my feet with the new role. The first few weeks were quite overwhelming.
Phrases for when confidence begins to build
These expressions describe the point where things start to feel more manageable.
It's starting to feel more natural
Something that used to require a lot of effort is beginning to come more easily. This phrase captures the shift from conscious effort to something closer to fluency.
Public speaking used to terrify me. It's starting to feel more natural.
I've turned a corner with something
After a difficult period, things have noticeably improved. There's a sense of real progress with this phrase — a before and after.
I've turned a corner with the project. I finally know where it's going.
Phrases for when everything suddenly makes sense
Every learner knows these moments. They're worth having the language for.
I had a bit of a lightbulb moment
A lightbulb moment is when something suddenly makes sense. Adding ‘a bit of a’ softens it slightly and makes it sound more natural in conversation.
I had a bit of a lightbulb moment reading that essay. It completely changed how I think about the topic.
Something just clicked
Similar to a lightbulb moment, but slightly more sudden and complete. When something clicks, the understanding feels immediate and certain.
I'd been struggling with the concept for weeks and then something just clicked during a conversation with a colleague.
Phrases for when progress feels stuck
Not every stage feels like forward movement. These phrases are useful when things feel difficult or stalled.
I feel like I've hit a plateau
A plateau is when your progress seems to stop, even though you're still putting in the effort. It's a very common experience for learners at the intermediate and advanced stages.
I feel like I've hit a plateau with my running. I'm training just as hard but not improving.
I'm going round in circles with something
This means you keep returning to the same problem without making any real progress. It often signals that a break or a fresh perspective might help.
I'm going round in circles with this proposal. I think I need to step away and come back to it.
I've gone back to basics
This means returning to the fundamentals in order to rebuild from a stronger foundation. It takes confidence to do this, and it often pays off.
My technique had got quite sloppy so I've gone back to basics with a new teacher.
How to start using these phrases
Reading a list of expressions is one thing. Using them is another.
Try choosing just one phrase from this list, ideally one that describes where you are right now with something you're working on. Then try and use it in a real conversation this week. Notice how it changes the way you express yourself. Instead of saying it's difficult or I don't know, you suddenly have something more precise, more honest, and more interesting to say.
Read the full article with audio examples on Substack.
Want to practise using language like this in a real conversation?
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