I find it ludicrous that some people think that having a B2 in a language isn't enough? That the CEFR is treated like a ladder where everyone has to climb to the C2 at the top to "master" the language. And that being at the B levels means you aren't smart enough, or doing enough.
I talked to a girl recently who asked me about my levels in the languages I'm learning, which I honestly never know how to answer because I'm learning by myself, I don't take any classes or tests or exams or have anyone who could tell me what my level is. And as usual, I told her I'm somewhere in the B levels. And she just responded with "if you've been learning these languages for so many years, why are you only at the B levels?" And I just... can't. Maybe I'm just not interested in academic and technical texts? Maybe I don't need to use elaborate and complex phrases and sentences to get my point across? Maybe because I'm learning multiple languages at the same time for fun?
I've struggled for years with feeling inadequate in my languages learning, like I'm not smart enough or learning fast enough. But this isn't a race to the top of the CEFR ladder. And I just don't have the time, energy or interest to put hundreds of hours into learning things I don't think I'll ever want or need to use. And even though it's my hobby and something that brings me joy, learning languages is HARD for me, and keeping all the knowledge in my head is even harder.
