I get that learning a foreign language certainly is not everyone's cup of tea, but if you have the opportunity to, I would suggest going for it. Being fluent in a language other than your native one obviously looks great on a resume, but I believe it also allows you to be more cultured and versatile.
Personally, I love studying a foreign language (although I am far from fluent in it); however, it certainly does come with many struggles. Here a few struggles that I am sure anyone taking a foreign language can relate to:
1. You are only allowed to speak that language in the classroom.
When the class is taught solely in that language, it can be difficult trying to have a conversation with your partner. While trying to do an assignment, it is so challenging when neither of you know how to say something, so you are desperately trying to communicate through wild gestures and facial expressions.
2. When you totally did not understand what the professor was saying.
Everyone around you seems to understand, so you decide to just go along with it. You are stuck hoping and praying the whole time that he or she does not call on you.
3. When the professor actually does call on you
They call on you and actually have no clue how to respond.
4. Listening to the recordings.
When you are trying to listen to the recording of people speaking, but maybe you cannot keep up with how quickly they are talking or how strong their accent is, so you are in no way comprehending what they are saying.
5. When you miss a few key words.
When you are reading the text, but you do not fully understand what some of the words mean, so you think, "Okay, this probably is not too imperative to the reading. I get the general concept of the text." But then when the professor is going over it with the class, you realize those one or two words made a huge difference, and you are now extremely confused.
6. Remembering you, and others, don't actually speak that language regularly.
When you leave class after speaking solely in that language for one-two hours and have to remember that you are actually allowed to speak in English again.
7. Constantly trying to translate, even once you leave your class.
You often finding yourself trying to translate your thoughts, what you said, or what someone else said into the language that you study.
8. Remembering you aren't fluent, yet.
Wanting to say something in either your writings, partner conversations, etc., but you remember that you have not learned how to say it yet.
While learning a foreign language does come with quite a few struggles and require some patience, it certainly comes with plenty of benefits!
