We've all done it, if you haven't, you are doing to do it. There is no escape. Learning a language is a task that we all have to do.
1. Confidence:
You've got this, no problem! You've done research on the culture and have fallen in love, or at least started to like it.
2. Obsession:
You love class, all your homework is coming back with little to no corrections and you start answering your friends' texts with very basic words in the language you are learning.
3. Unease:
Something's not right. You've been studying flashcards for days upon days but your test comes back with displeasing results. Nothing you've learned seems to be staying in your mind..."What was the word for that again?"
Less and less of what your teacher is saying makes sense. You start struggling to find the right words and grammar to answer questions. Time seems to slow down and the feeling that everyone's eyes are boring into the back of your skull doesn't help the matter. In reality everyone is just thankful for the chance to check their phones and most likely only 10 seconds had passed.
5. Confusion:
You've mustered up the courage. Everything seems to be making sense now. After months of hard work you're ready to use what you've learned. The scenario usually goes something like this: sitting at your favorite restaurant, you order something. Pride swells up in your chest but suddenly bursts when the waiter answers. You smile and nod your head, hoping that they didn't ask you a question. You skip your language class the next day to nurture your wound.
6. Frustration:
"How do I not know this?" is the singular thought you have at all times while doing dealing with this language. You've practiced and practiced but feel like you haven't made any progress. You begin to think that you're just not made out to learn different languages.
7. Revelation:
It has clicked. It happened, either you had your first dream in a different language (even if you didn't understand it), or you answered back without thinking about it. A new era in your life has begun! It still takes hard work but knowing that everything you've done in the past wasn't for nothing helps you persevere.
8. Assured:
You're speaking it without thinking! Congratulations! You no longer need the 10 extra seconds to translate whatever you're hearing or saying into your native tongue. You still struggle sometimes but now it's all about learning new vocab on the go and having fun.
9. Embarrassment:
With confidence comes blunders. Usually its along the lines of responding to a question or making on observation when you suddenly make the mistake of saying, "Hey, apple tastes like p***y," but what you actually meant was, "Hey, this apple tastes mussy." Mistakes happen and it's best just to laugh at them... even when they still come up in conversations four years later.
10. Triumph:
You've done it! You survived for a certain amount of time in the country where the language you've been learning was spoken. You're still making a few mistakes and some slang still escapes you, but you've done it. All those years of hard work and thinking you would never be able to learn it have paid off. The feelings of peace and victory have subtly settled in and you're now enjoying conversations with new friends that you never thought you would have.