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Rewriting the Rules:
A New Paradigm for Language Learning

How the Industry Marginalizes 'Non-Native' Speakers—and Why It Needs to Change


Written by Michelle K (Founder of WeCultivate). Published Feb 2025.

The language learning industry has no qualms about how it generates profit—trading the authenticity of non-native speakers as currency.

No matter which language you’re learning, the system perpetuates outdated narratives of “native speaker superiority” to keep its wheels turning. These antiquated beliefs have not only resisted change in our modern, interconnected world but also deeply ingrained a culture of knowledge-gatekeeping and exploitation.

Technology, instead of resolving these issues, has only exacerbated them. Apps and digital tools promise miraculous results for 'anyone, anywhere,' while sidestepping the real challenges faced by real working adults—those navigating diverse professional roles or adapting to multicultural and globalized environments at a pace that traditional methods can't keep up with.

And yet, instead of innovating to meet these challenges, much of the industry clings to manipulative sales tactics, trapping clients in an endless cycle of dependence.

Harmful Narratives to Generate Profitability

Everywhere, non-native speakers are told:

“You must improve yourself.”
“You must fix what you lack.”
“You must strive to imitate native speakers if you want true acceptance.”

This message has permeated every corner of the industry, from accent reduction courses to apps, books, and programs claiming to hold the elusive secret to “native-like” mastery. (Whatever that’s supposed to mean.)

At its core, the narrative suggests this:
You weren’t lucky enough to be born into your target language.


And for that, you must compensate.

In other words...

Carrot and stick. That's what keeps the dysfunction, functional. [Image Source: "Europe 1916", an anti-war cartoon by Boardman Robinson , licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons]

You must pay.

But the cost of this message runs far deeper than money.

Non-native speakers are often taught to reject the very essence of who they are:

  • Their roots and origins.
  • Their ideas, thoughts, and expertise.
  • Their unique contributions to a globalized world.

They are told to conform, to erase, to replace themselves—piece by piece—until they no longer recognize the person they were before they began this journey.

If you've watched Avengers (or had a knack for philosophy), you might be familiar with The Ship of Theseus: a philosophical thought experiment about the nature of one's identity.
[Image Source: TvTropes & Pastillustrator]

- The WeCultivate Response -

WeCultivate exists to challenge this toxic cycle.

We’re here to re-empower adult language learners, giving them the tools and confidence to take back control of their learning paths and growth journeys.

We can no longer stand idly by as spectators to passive, disengaged learning or forced conformity.

We believe all learners have:

  • The power to decide how a new language integrates into their life.
  • The freedom to see learning as a privilege, not a punishment.
  • The opportunity to grow without losing who they are.

We believe it’s your right to reclaim your sovereignty in a world that seeks to strip it away—one that encourages you to stay quiet, follow blindly, and wait. For permission to belong.

We believe you deserve to be treated like an actual HUMAN BEING.
With the full respect of your unique voice, experiences, and contributions.

No longer relegated to the sidelines or forced to fit into a mold that was never meant for you to begin with.

It's your road. You choose how to walk it.
[Photo by Alex Rainer on Unsplash]

Language learning shouldn’t feel like dismantling the Ship of Theseus—losing yourself piece by piece until nothing original remains.

It should and CAN be a beautiful opportunity to add new dimensions to who you are, to expand, to evolve.

To discover parts of yourself you never knew could exist.

At WeCultivate, we believe that:

  • Integration of new parts is not wrong.
  • Appreciation of new cultures is not wrong.
  • But forcing someone to erase their identity and conform to an ideal they can never fully embody—like striving to become something they were never meant to be—and claiming that’s the path to living “freely”? 

That’s not just wrong. It’s inaccurate.

We did not control where we were born or the languages we were raised to speak.

To demand that we erase who we are—our experiences, our truths—things that do not rely on a singular language or cultural identity, just to be accepted?

It’s the ugly manifestation of power dynamics that have long been used to control and suppress.

One that doesn’t always depend on how you look, but always on how you sound.

A Choice: One You Maybe Didn’t Know You Had.

 
WeCultivate recognizes that much of the psychological and emotional burdens of language learning stems from these overlooked truths.

 ~~~

Because we are not machines.
We are not here to simply import and export data.

 

We are living, thinking, feeling human beings. 


And we deserve to feel empowered in every aspect of our communication— no matter what language we’re currently using or grew up speaking.

 

To show everyone that, unlike our ancestors, we do have a choice.

 

To surround ourselves with those who language as a tool for growth and discovery.

To embrace new languages as an opportunity to add to who we are—not subtract.

To stop tearing ourselves apart to fit into someone else’s idea of ‘accepted perfection’.

 

To challenge a longstanding institution that profits from your insecurities.

From Silence to Sovereign

 
A journey from passive learning to realizing what confident, empowered communication looks like for YOU.

 

REALIZATION

We have the CHOICE to decide how we want to show up in the world. How we want to express and how we want to be perceived. The first step is recognizing that power lies within.

REFLECTION

Growth starts with understanding ourselves—our habits, fears, and values. Reflecting on these internal aspects allows us to ALIGN our external factors of language and communication to better reflect who we truly are. Rather than just mimicking blindly.

ACTION

By taking CONCRETE, aligned action, we create a person who is more than just a good actor-imitator. We create someone who knows that confidence comes from their TRUE authenticity.

What Does This Mean For Me?

If what I've written here strikes a chord deep within. If you're been thinking... this woman knows EXACTLY what I've been trying to say. I just haven't been able to find the right words!

Well that's great news.

See, I didn’t write this piece just because I’m “mad” at the way things are. I wrote it to show you that you have a choice. And it doesn’t depend on if you work with me or someone else who shares my philosophy.

Every single word here comes from someone who knows firsthand how flawed this world is and how desperately the industry needs change. I see it with my clients every day, as I have with learners for years. And I’ve also experienced every single challenge I talk about here in my own life.

Awareness of these problems is important—it’s the necessary first step. But awareness without action isn’t enough. No matter if you’re a learner or an instructor, complacency is baked into every standard learning path.

What shocks me most is seeing how many professionals and “experts” are willing to talk about these issues—so long as it’s behind closed doors.

I get it. If you’re a teacher stuck in a broken system, you’re painfully aware of the limits placed on your potential impact.

That’s a burden I no longer have to bear.

Choosing to go all-in with this business wasn’t about money. It was about freedom.

The freedom to speak openly about issues others can’t address without risking their jobs or reputations.

The freedom to build products and services that align with my values.

The freedom to show others that alternative ways can and do exist.

It was a choice I made for myself, once I realized it was right in front of me.

I want that same freedom for everyone who comes into and out of the WeCultivate ecosystem. I want them to reclaim their voice, inspire others, and challenge the status quo.

Resistance doesn’t have to be loud or violent.

Pushback doesn't have to be negative.

But it still can be powerful.

Here are a couple of things you can do in response.


1. Begin your reflection process NOW.

Maybe you know how to reflect, and journal every day. Maybe you haven't put a pen to paper in a while. No matter where you choose to write or how you choose to go about it, now is the time to get back in touch with:

  • Who you are
  • What you generally believe
  • Why you've made certain learning decisions
  • Where you think you'll go from here

Heads up: I'll be releasing a FREE training meant to help you map out your path up until now. Make sure you're subscribed to the flagship newsletter to find out when that drops.

2. Educate yourself on the topics only a minority of the professional field wants you to see.

I was very lucky to have had great professors and language teachers who taught me how to see through outdated narratives. But not everyone got the chance I did.

I'm in the middle of building out a resource hub to help with all of this. You can sign up for the waitlist here.

Before that launches, new episodes of WeCultivate:The Pod are dropping constantly! Take a peek at "Related Resources" to get deeper with each episode.

By the way, I know this stuff can be anxiety-inducing. Especially if you're the only one who thinks this way in your friend group or family.

Coming soon: An article to help you feel grounded and safe along your path to empowered expression.

3. Take ALIGNED action depending on your individual circumstances.

This means first KNOWING what your circumstances are. A way to see yourself from inside-> out rather than outside-> in.

2025 is already a busy year, but I'll be adding a quick PDF exercise you can do on your own to help with this. You'll see it updated here before March.

Even if you don't know 100% how to do this yet, don't worry.

Here are ways to get started on your new, empowered learning path:

  • Explore workshops, tools, and study guides that offer REAL value. Not ones trying to scare-sell you into buying their program because the industry has been in this broken cycle for generations.
    • My advice: If the feeling you have is one of low-worth, insufficiency, and imposter syndrome, and the person, product, or service is using that as their primary sales tactic, then move on!
  • Follow aligned industry professionals online. I'll be releasing a personal recommendations list of accounts I'd suggest – experts who are in the business of "ethical sales" and empowerment work.
  •  Stay connected with me (and The Unpaid Intern) to see more of the game-changing, table-turning work we have planned for this year.