What Is Mindset Theory?

Behind all of the blogs, podcasts and lessons around the power of mindset is mindset theory. According to it, people have either a growth or fixed mindset. Those with a growth mindset believe that you’re able to change and develop your abilities, while those with a fixed mindset think their abilities and intelligence aren’t able to change. To learn, experts say it’s best to have a growth mindset because believing you can do something is half the battle. Keep reading to learn more!

Fixed vs growth mindset

These two components that make up mindset theory have gotten very popular in recent years. What are the main differences between these two mindsets? Basically, a fixed mindset believes that you’re born with a certain amount of skills and intelligence, and no amount of work can change that. Having this mindset often stops people from trying new things or learning new skills because they believe they will never be able to do that.

Read moreVideo: Spanish-English false friends

On the other hand, a growth mindset believes that you’re able to keep learning and developing new skills, and that intelligence and abilities can grow and change overtime. Having this mindset helps people learn and try new things because they don’t believe they are inherently unable to do something.

Mindset theory can help you learn a new language

At the end of the day, having a growth mindset benefits you in so many ways as a language learner. With a fixed mindset, you’re more likely to give into feelings of hopelessness if you believe you’ll never be able to do something. If you’ve heard someone say “I’m just not good at language”, that’s a prime example of having a fixed mindset. With a growth mindset, you’re more likely to say “I need to practice this more” or “I need a new approach.”

Read moreOnline Activity: Conjugate Spanish Verbs in Present

Practicing mindfulness will help you open your mind to new opportunities. Over time, you’ll feel more positive and encouraged.