Plain English Meaning

A stretch of time when a student keeps practicing but doesn't seem to be getting any better. It's a normal part of learning, not a sign of failure, and improvement usually picks up again.

Full Definition

A period during skill training in which a learner's measurable progress appears to stall or level off, even though practice continues. The plateau is a normal stage in the learning process and is usually temporary. It may reflect a natural pause while the learner consolidates earlier gains, a need to shift to a more efficient technique, or a temporary drop in motivation or focus.

Context Anchor

Seen in flight instruction when a student appears stuck on a skill, such as landings, radio calls, or aircraft control, after earlier progress.

Derivation

From the French plateau, meaning a flat, raised of land. Used here to picture progress as a graph: the line , then runs flat for a while, then climbs again.