Here I am, a girl who grew up speaking English and feeling the need to learn Spanish because of where I live--and, 3 Spanish classes later, still not fluent.
I tried. Or at least, I thought I had. I thought that taking those three courses in school would equal me being able to communicate with those who can't speak English, but it didn't. I can understand them, but speaking it is an entirely different thing. I am entirely incapable of holding a worthwhile conversation in Spanish--which is a hard thing to admit when I spent so much time on the language.
It's like admitting you were wrong about something that you had argued about for 10 years. It hurts. It's painful, and yet, you know it's true.
Learning a foreign language is no easy feat and definitely should not be taken lightly, but it is worth it.
Why is it worth it? Well, in the event that you do meet someone who speaks the language you know, but can't speak English, you can help them learn English and also act as a translator for when they need you. There is nothing more helpful than someone who can do what you can't.
Another thing that makes it worth it is that learning a language is character building. You don't have to be inherently smart or anything, you just have to be committed and do a little bit every day. That is how habits are formed and that is how you can make sure that you eventually do have the time every day to learn a new language. It can be a purely selfish reason and people will see that you were committed enough to just learn a language for the heck of it.
I am now on day 4 of learning German (the language I have always wanted to learn but never thought I would be able to use) and I am eating it up. I am not necessarily great at it, nor could I necessarily create my own sentences yet, but I am very excited about learning this beautiful language and couldn't possibly wish for anything else.
It is a feeling of doing something you actually want and love. A feeling that, no matter what, you will be proud of yourself. I know that the likelihood of me using this Wunderbar (wonderful) language anywhere other than my journal and in conversation if I ever visit Germany is very small, but it is still there.
When you learn a language, you are learning cultural aspects, the way things are said, how the language is similar or different from yours, new grammar rules (which often end up being similar), and so on.
Learning a language is hard, trust me. I know, but it is great knowing that possibly, one day, you may be able to help someone converse with someone else or you may be the one conversing with others.
I do wish I was better at Spanish, and who knows? Maybe that will be my next language to conquer, but for now German is the one and ich liebe es.
