"How Language Actually Works" challenges the idea that language is a system of rules to be memorized, arguing instead that language is built through meaning, use, repetition, and attention. Written in a clear, essayistic style grounded in Cognitive Linguistics, the book explains why traditional teaching and testing often fail to reflect how people actually learn to speak and understand languages, and offers a sharper, more honest way of thinking about language learning for teachers, students, and curious readers alike.