I've learned two foreign languages living in other countries, and never been able to speak them: so don't do what I do! But, of people that I've seen go from b

I've learned two foreign languages living in other countries, and never been able to speak them: so don't do what I do! But, of people that I've seen go from bad to good when they are immersed - the traits I notice is "persistence", "volume (amount)". I knew a Russian guy whose English was beginner level. He came to every web meetup and submitted talks constantly. His first talks were... painful. But he just kept going! I didn't even notice the transition, but each talk was better than the last. Another couple I knew would come to every work event and the would tell stories to everyone. Again, they started terrible - but there seemed to be some point where they just "clicked" and again, I didn't even notice they had become fluent. When I tried to learn, I got too embarrassed would never talk. But I think you have to just be embarrassed and talk talk talk!