3 things they don't tell you about learning and a new language

So you’ve decided to learn a new language. Great decision!

It’s going to stimulate your mind, impress your peers and create a new skill set.

But what they don’t tell you about learning a new language is that it’s also going to frustrate you beyond your limit, embarrass you in more ways than one and push you to the edge – but it’s all worth it (we promise).

The frustration is real

It’s all fun and games until someone mentions the word ‘grammar’. We know, we get it, you want to skip that part and get to the one where we talk fluently using our newly adopted accent. But there’s groundwork to be done. Learning the origin of the language, remembering vocabulary (and not to mention conjugations for those derived from Latin) and proper sentence structure can get so… incredibly… frustrating.

And just when you think you’ve got a concept down pat – BOOM, a new rule applies that is an exception to the rule you just learnt… which was actually another exception to the other rule you learnt – and so on.

Using words in the wrong order, forgetting if a chair is female or male (gotta’ love Latin), and knowing the difference between ‘perfect’ and ‘imperfect’ is enough to make someone quit. But for some reason we keep going.

Cringe-worthy embarrassment

After a couple of lessons, you’re feeling good. You’re feeling confident. And you’re thinking “I can do this”.

You’re now at the point where holding a short conversation in your new tongue is no big deal. You meet some native speakers, strike up a conversation and voilà you’re practically fluent.

But all of a sudden, they’re laughing. With you, or at you, it makes no difference as your face is already pink. You wish you could retreat into the bushes, just like Homer Simpson.

It turns out you said the wrong word – spelt exactly the same, just missing an accent – an easy mistake to make. The speed at which they were talking threw you off your game.

The embarrassment brings hesitation to your next conversation, but for some reason, you keep practicing.

Slow and steady wins the race

Eating just one healthy meal a week won’t make you fit over time. Just like only coming to class once a week won’t surmount to fluency.

However, if you eat healthy meals every single day, work out and keep at it, you’re going to get that body you’ve always dreamed of.

It’s exactly the same when learning a new language. If you come to class every week, use the language every single day and keep at it, there is no doubt that you will edge closer to fluency.

It’s the small, consistent actions that might seem insignificant on the day-to-day, but over the space of a year you will have built many good habits that could last a lifetime.

“A year?!” you’re thinking, “that’s a long time”. You get the feeling you’re probably going to give up somewhere along the way. But for some reason, you don’t.

Why it’s worth it

By now you’re asking yourself why you would endure frustration, subject yourself to embarrassment and put in the hard yards. We promised it would be worth it, and here’s a couple of reasons why:

• You make new friends from different countries
• Learn about different cultures through new eyes
• Boosts your self-esteem (once that vocab is polished)
• Keeps your brain healthy
• Allows you to experience authentic travel
• Creates compassion and understanding for others
• Proves you can do anything you set your mind to
• Opens up your world to new and endless possibilities

That’s just a few reasons why we think it’s worth learning a second language.

What about you? Why do you think the frustration, embarrassment and hard work is worth it? We’d love to know! (Brownie points for an embarrassing story).