The phenomenon of learning a second language has been something that has become widely accepted in American culture today. There is a fascination with learning about a second language or more. This interest in learning a second language does rightfully warrant all of its hype, because a second language opens the doors to new opportunities and garners respect for other cultures as well.
I was raised in a multi-racial family, so as often as English was spoken, my mother and grandmother always talked in Spanish as well. In high school, I wished to expand my knowledge of languages beyond English and Spanish, so naturally, I began learning French. By taking a completely different language which challenged me to learn more vocabulary and verb tenses, I expanded my capacities to empathize with others and communicate with a broader range of people as well.
Although the first foreign language I learned may have been more informal, the classroom setting of learning French was invaluable but tedious at times. After four years of learning French in high school to now continuing it in college, I have learned a thing or two about the important things to learn about learning a second (or third) language.
1. You find yourself completely lost if you zone out while your teacher is talking in the language you are learning.
It can be pretty easy to tune out things that you may not fully understand, but it is crucial to listen closely to as much as possible. The more of an active listener you are, the more engaged you will become in the long run!
2. One week you are learning the present tense, but the next you are being introduced to a completely different tense.
We have all been there – one week your instructor is teaching one verb tense or concept, but to your surprise, the next day they teach something completely different yet dependent on your mastery of the first concept. To prevent panic over a situation like this in the future, I suggest to thoroughly review concepts you learned in class as soon as possible to get you closer to mastery.
3. You begin to want to celebrate the holidays in the countries where the language is spoken.
Dia de Los Muertos? Oktoberfest? Mardi Gras? Chinese New Year? These and more become more appealing for students to learn about with increased exposure to the new culture you are learning about.
4. Flashcards become your absolute best friend.
I have probably used at least ten packs of notecards filled with vocabulary and verbs I constantly aimed to review until mastery.
5. You and your classmates struggle to understand difficult readings together.
Everyone has texted their friend from their language class to address a mutual bafflement and confusion over completely foreign words in readings and homework assignments.
6. Dictionaries (or translators) become your best friend (part two).
This has saved the lives of thousands of students trying to navigate the world of a new language. Whether you opt for a physical dictionary or a mobile option online, the satisfaction of finally knowing what that word means provides an indescribable amount of joy!
7. The excitement of mastering basic conversational vocabulary.
Who would have known that simple questions like: How are you? How old are you? What is your name? are so essential to the everyday conversation?
8. The nervousness, excitement, fear, etc. when you talk to a native speaker for the first time.
I clearly remember talking with a native French speaker for the first time ever, and the rush of emotions which overwhelmed me. However, in that moment, I realized how much I had finally learned.
Although the task of learning a second language may seem daunting at first, the indescribable amount of satisfaction which comes after every step towards mastery makes the process all worthwhile!
