By understanding the feelings we have when learning a language we can see what helps us.  By understanding where we are weak, we can focus on solutions.

Here are some feelings described of learners: 

In the international meeting, at first I felt helpless because I couldn't understand much English

To follow, I tried focussing on what one person was saying, but I couldn't concentrate for a long time.  When I couldn't understand a word, I spent time trying to understand it and I missed the next sentences; and then I panicked!

When I could understand, I needed to feel sure I understood correctly.  

I gained some confidence when the group organised a feedback system: this way I could ask when I didn't understand and check in Turkish if I felt unsure.

Non-verbal communication was very important: stresses, silences to give time to think, eye contact...   

Once you try, you realise that you can communicate and exchange ideas.  Perhaps not perfectly, but good enough. It feels good, and you try again.  It doesn't always work; but you learn what works, and find others ways for what you coudn't do at first. 

Meaning: Without language, no information is received, so I'm vulnerable.

Skills and strategies: I'm not aware of what to do.

The disinterested majority: Monolinguals - people who only know their mother tongue - have no understanding of what I'm experiencing.

Process:  Bilinguals, people fully conversant in both languages, do not realise what information I have missed; they comprehend automatically, without conscious thought of which language they are using. All my Turkish language processes are a conscious act: much more exhausting, without a reflex loop. All neural signals have to go the long way round, via the thinking brain.

Awareness: People forget I do not understand: I look 'normal'.

Sifting through noise: Language learners in the early stages have to sift through a lot of 'noise' for little or no meaning: great effort with little return.

Guess-stress: I try to guess to fill gaps.

Courage: How can I join in?

Crowds: Especially in a crowd...

Exhaustion: Eventually, I turn off mentally.

Exclusion: I am conscious of being left out excluded from situations, discussions, decisions; this can later build up into resentment.

 The feelings and reflections of this learner described in detail in Language Impaired.