Rating

Hello, all. I searched the forums looking for things related to ratings and improvement but yielded no results. I'm still working my way through the lessons on this website as well as trying to study various YouTube channels in order to improve my gameplay and ultimately my rating. I'm struggling to understand the way these YouTubers think when it comes to pattern recognition and calculating moves in advance. I feel like my rating has plateaued at about 400 which is a bit disappointing and even discouraging at times. Could any of you get me oriented in the right direction? 

try chessking.com/learn.

They have preview, which is some of the lower exercises, and a one time buy that works a lifetime..

https://learn.chessking.com/

I just like to keep practicing, and learn from my mistakes. I’m only at 300, but I still like playing!

Learning chess is like learning a language. Think about how a child learns a language:

• It takes several years before a child is reasonably proficient. It takes a decade or more to reach true fluency.
• The child has to be immersed in the language, using it and listening/seeing others use it.
• Learn from mistakes! Language-learning kids make all kinds of mistakes, often to the amusement of adults. A kind adult will help the child while not berating him/her.
• Native talent has some role to play. But fluency is mostly about diligent learning.

If learning chess is indeed similar to learning a language, what can an aspiring chess player learn from a kid who's learning a language?

Check out John Bartholomew chess fundamentals videos on youtube. It's a great start.