“Fluent” is one of those words that I used for years… until I actually became “fluent” in a language. I found that the better I got at Japanese, the less understood the real meaning of this word.

Is fluent being able to order at a restaurant? Is fluent being able to ask for directions? Is it JLPT N3? N1? Does it include understanding political documentaries? Does it include being able to comfort your friend after they've lost a loved one?

I have no idea what the word “fluent” means. And if “fluency” is something that you're aiming for, then you're probably going to be disappointed, unless you give it your own specific, personal definition.

When I said “build a foundation for fluency in Japanese,” I really just meant that you will reach a level where you've learned too much to turn back. I am talking about reaching a level where you are proud of yourself. You will be able to do amazing things in the language that extend far past your initial ability. At the same time, there will still be so many things that you can't do in Japanese at the end of Phase #3. “Fluency” is a bittersweet feeling.

A good language-learner is never 100% satisfied. There will always be other people that are better than you at Japanese. Always. Even if you get better than every other student of Japanese that you've ever met, there will still be Japanese people that you'll never catch up to. I think that while a good language-learner recognizes that there are always areas that can be improved, at the same time he or she must not have a negative mindset about the never-ending quest for improvement.