26/04/2026
The Dunning-Kruger Effect is a great example of how our own ego can lead to our downfall.
I've been trying to learn 日本語 (Japanese) for almost two years now through Duolingo. I already knew the language was hard at the get-go because I needed to learn not just the language, but the way of writing (Katakana, Hiragana, and Kanji). You need both to actually read, write, and speak.
To tell you the truth, after one year of learning, I thought my Japanese was miles better compared to when I started. My confidence went up, and I was foaming at the mouth, excited to speak with our Japanese guests. And then reality hit me like a Japanese-isekai-truck.
They couldn't understand me, worse yet, I realized my Japanese was as broken as my spirit. Listening to the real thing gave me pause, an eye-opener to what it means to speak REAL Japanese, and I was miles away from it.
The Dunning-Kruger effect is when a person feels more confident when they have less knowledge and skills about a certain area or field. In my case, I was so focused on my progress in Duolingo that I forgot to compare it to the real thing. I thought progress meant knowledge.
This explains why the first villains in those shows or movies are so overconfident about themselves: flexing and showing their skills, but when they meet the real deal, they end up getting smacked around like a practice dummy.
The opposite is also true; the more you know about things, the simpler it feels to you, so you think anyone can learn it, deflating your ego. For me, just knowing that there is still so much to know humbles you. You're far from good.
In life, we sometimes think we've climbed the top of the mountain. The peaks we've reached are already the highest. All the while, never seeing the next higher mountain over. Keep yourself humble, and keep looking forward. You may not be good yet, but because you're human, you have the unlimited capacity to keep growing and learning.
It's on to the next mountain.
- Daryll
