ペラペラになるとはどういう事？ What is fluency?

Hey, long time no see
So today I want to talk about a topic raised on the Tofugu blog which I love
I also wrote on my own blog about this last year
Gakuranman too, lots of people have been talking about this
I get asked by lots of people, gaijins and Japanese - "how do you define fluency?"
People tell me "I think I can't ever get really fluent"
There are people like that, people with complexes about this
So I thought I might share a bit of my own thoughts on this
I think where most people seem to get things wrong is
People think that being fluent is being able to express everything you know
in your own native language, of English or Japanese or whatever
In just the same way in a different language, with the same fluency
People think with this kind of criteria
So to begin, that's... well... a mistake...
In my opinion
Put simply
People think that is what fluency is and focus on building up a repository of vocab and grammar
Assuming when they remember enough words and then speak, it will come out fluent
Because you won't be searching around in your head looking for words any more
The words will just pop out
People seem to think that becoming like that is achieving fluency
But, that's NOT THE CASE
What I want to tell you is this
The English, Japanese, German, French, Chinese or whatever that you study in school
Is different to studying the physical use of a language
Put simply, being fluent is...
I mean, sure, there are objective criteria like high scores on on equivalency tests like TOEIC
But even then there people with high scores that aren't fluent
And people who have low scores but are good at speaking
So what's the deal?
FLUENCY IS SITUATIONAL, in my view
A fluent speaker is someone able to give the impression of being able to fluently say anything
So to do that, basically
I get asked how long it takes to become fluent
I think you can even get reasonably fluent in a day if you try
Of course, it's just going to be a very limited conversation
So, it's not about gathering vocabulary and then worrying about speaking technique later
Speaking technique is all about using however much knowledge you have to convey it naturally
To give an objective impression that you are speaking naturally
To practice trying to sound like a natural native English speaker with what you've got
So then people wonder how you get to practice
People say they don't have gaijins friends or no opportunities to practice
Some people are just introverted and not talkative
But even then there are places like Karaoke - I think karaoke is really great
It has the singing and pronouncation of words aspect
I found it a great way to learn the subtle things like tone and intonation for Japanese, even not knowing what the lyrics meant
I would just focus on intonation and pronouncation practicing with Japanese songs
Basically trying to do an impersonation of the real artist
Basically pretending to be Japanese singing, practicing moving my mouth in the right way
There are things like that
The main thing to understand is that fluency is NOT a matter of knowledge or intelligence
It's a pure issue of technique
It's a bit like acting
Just taking it in small steps is fine. Think of small kids
Why do we think small kids speak naturally without vocab
It's because they focus so hard on impersonating their parents, even if they get the words wrong
So this is why even looking at things like TV
Or just taking a set situation, like self introduction
Anyone can easily give a crappy Japanese-English sounding self introduction
But you don't have to say it like that
Stuff like that which anyone in Japan can say, the goal isn't just to say it. Try to say it with some style
That's what I'm trying to say
When you start thinking like that, you start to feel the boundaries of your conversation ability
In a way, you are deceiving the other person into thinking you are fluent
But that is what your aim ought to be
Don't feel self conscious about trying not to give the wrong impression
Try to impress people to the point that you are totally screwed
When you raise their expectations, you raise the pressure on yourself and that becomes motivation to study
So that's what fluency is
It's based on the given situation you are in
Where you take what knowledge you have
And use it in the absolute best/coolest way you possibly can
Being able to do that right is being fluent in my opinion
Taking that approach, I grew from using a very limited vocab
To a point where now I just think and operate in Japanese
It's actually at a point now that there are phrases I use in Japanese that I don't know how to say in English
I find my brain kind works in a different mode when I cut between languages
Right now I'm just in Japanese mode
But as you build up situational fluency, your brain starts to tick over expecting to think in the other language
So the thing is you shouldn't get too hung up on vocab
Try instead to think of how you are coming across to someone else, focus on style and delivery
What do I need to do to make myself look fluent?
That's what you should aim for
I think if you just start practicing at home, just with self introductions
If you nail that situation, in that situation at least, you can be fluent
That is the definition I use and recommend
That's why I really think anyone can be fluent in another language
If you can speak your own language, you can speak any other language
Humans, we all have the same mouth
There are different muscles we use and don't use
But that's just a matter of training and exercise
So try an approach along those lines to speaking
Think of a situation where you can use the language and aim at being seen as fluent in that situation
Have a go and see for yourself
Do your best! That's it from me