How's Your Kavannah?

Shavua Tov.
Today I was learning in the Yershualmi, Berachos, Shottenstein ed.; and came across the following passage: 49B
R' Eliezer says: If one makes his Prayer a fixed recitation, his Prayer is not a genuine supplication. R' Abahu said in the name of R' Elazar: As long as one does not recite his Prayer as one who reads from a letter - i.e. in a dry, unemotional manner - his Prayer is not regarded as a fixed recitation.
The parallel text in the Bavli, 29B reads:
What is the meaning of fixed? R' Yaakov bar Idi said in the name of R' Oshaya: Anyone whose Prayer is like a burden on him.

The elucidation comments:
he does not recite the Prayer in a supplicatory manner, meaning in a pleading tone, like one begging for mercy...This is what is meant by "as one who reads from a letter"; i.e. he does not pray in tones of pleading and supplication.... Alternatively (this) describes a person who does not concentrate on the words of Prayer...Others explain that this refers to one who recites Prayer quickly
and in the Bavli:
His attitude is that of one who is saddled with a chore and seeks to be done with it..Alternatively, he manifests such an attitude by praying at a hurried pace

For those of us whose understanding of Hebrew is limited, but still want to daven in lashon kodesh, this can be a problem. One can easily end up merely repeating sounds without comprehending the meaning behind them and thus fail to put feeling into Prayer. Of course even when praying in one's native tongue, it is easy to slip into the "davening by rote" routine. Should a person not daven in lashon kodesh, if their understanding of the language is somewhat lacking, to avoid as much as possible a "fixed recitation?"