Last week, the lambs were still finding their feet carefully, slowly, a little unsurely.
But one week later?
They’re running. Jumping. Playing.
They’ve grown stronger. And it wasn’t because they rushed. It’s because they aligned with the natural rhythm of growth: slow, steady, and purposeful.
Now, just like them, maybe it’s time you brought some joy into your learning.
And there’s no better reminder of that than the cherry blossoms.
The Magic of Sakura Season
In Japan, early spring is celebrated with hanami (花見), a joyful custom of gathering under blooming cherry trees, enjoying food, drink, conversation, and the simple pleasure of nature’s beauty.
Sakura blossoms are delicate, light, and fleeting. They bloom briefly, fall gently, and remind us:
Not everything needs to be intense, difficult, or perfect to be meaningful.
Lightness is powerful. And so is bringing a sense of curiosity and joy into your English learning.
What Does This Mean for Your English Practice?
Let’s take a lesson from sakura and apply it to language learning:
- Not everything has to be serious.
Try learning with a sense of play: explore new expressions just for fun, read something light or funny, or watch a show you enjoy (even if it’s not “business English”). - Short and sweet works.
Five minutes a day, every day, is better than 2 hours once a week. Focus on enjoyment over perfection. - Repeat your favourites.
Like visiting your favourite cherry tree each year, revisit idioms, phrases, or short videos you enjoy. Repetition builds fluency. - Enjoyment is part of the process.
The truth is: we learn better when we enjoy what we’re doing. Research shows that when a learning experience is positive and meaningful, we’re more likely to remember it and use it.
This is at the heart of my Intuitive English method: practice with content that interests you, that you care about, and that brings you a spark of joy. The language will follow.
A Gentle Challenge
This week, try this hanami-inspired language ritual:
- Pick one new spring-related phrase or idiom;
- Write it down in a notebook;
- Say it out loud. Then use it in two different sentences;
- Smile as you say it. Enjoy the sound of it;
- Don’t correct yourself too much, just enjoy it; and then
- Try using it in a comment, an email, or a chat.
Remember joy is a powerful teacher.
When you enjoy learning, you remember more, you speak more, and you feel more confident.
Just like the cherry blossoms your learning moments don’t need to last forever to leave a beautiful impact.
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