News Flash: Learning a Language is Hard
One of the biggest preoccupations about studying abroad is the desire or rather the expectation to learn a new language. This fact is exemplified by the first question you will be asked by everyone upon returning home: “So are you, like, totally fluent now?” My immediate thought always is, “wow this person has obviously never studied abroad before.” While your language abilities will vastly improve, you WILL NOT become bilingual. This is simply not possible a matter of months.
I made this same error before entering my programs and even asked the same silly question. I assumed that living in a Spanish-speaking country would mean that afterwards I would practically be a native. I dreamt of the surprised and shocked face of a Spanish speaker when the pasty blond girl busted out some flawless Spanish lingo. Unfortunately, I have now been living in a Spanish speaking country for quite some time and although I am proficient in the language there are still many moments when people speak to me directly and instead of coming up with some clever quip, I nod my head in confusion due to the fact that I have no idea what they are saying.
The point is, learning a language is a rollercoaster. There are moments when you feel like you are completely fluent because you understand every joke and are capable of long and thoughtful political debates. Then there are other times when you cannot remember how to ask where the bathroom is. Not to mention that when you do semi-master one dialect, you travel for an hour outside of the region and the language that you have recently conquered now seems completely different and once again you don’t understand anything.
However, one this is certain. Proficiency in the language will be determined by your personal efforts. One of the most tragic study abroad myths is that just living in the country will automatically summate fluency. While it is true that it is easier to learn a language by living in the country that speaks it, it certainly will not come to you if you do not practice. Think of it like this: just because you live in a piano store every day for a year doesn’t mean you will become a master pianist if you never sit down to practice playing the instrument.
Learning a language is EXTREMELY difficult. You have to practice every single day in order to achieve musicality. You will not wake up one day and suddenly be an expert in any language. I have many good friends from studying abroad who constantly complain about their difficulties with the language. They moan about how they don’t understand anything and don’t feel like they have improved. After a few inquisitions, I realize that it is because they haven’t spoken a word of Spanish in weeks and refuse to do so because “it is too hard!”
Unfortunately, this is one the things they don’t tell you in your orientation as you are getting psyched for your new trip and presumed language fluency. It is often extremely embarrassing and emotionally draining to learn a language. My heart sank every time in Spain when I order a simple cup of coffee and the waiter looked at me as if I were speaking Chinese.
In another language you cannot make the same jokes, you cannot understand everything that is going on, and you often feel trapped by your inabilities. You will be surprised by how little you have to speak the new language because there is English everywhere and it is much more fun to do something you already know how to do.
However, if you are truly dedicated and you really want to learn a language, you are just going to have to step up and realize that sometimes it is going to suck. When you finally do get a joke sitting at a table of locals, or finally finish that foreign language book you have been working on for three months, it is so worth the effort.
My advice: through all of the struggles and ups and down the most important thing to do is to learn to laugh at yourself. While at the time it may not seem so entertaining that the waiter asks you how many sugar packets you want for your coffee and your reply is “yes,” really, it is pretty funny. So remember to stay positive and keep looking up all the words you don’t know, even though you may have already looked up one particular one a hundred times. There will be a moment when you are reading something at random and you finally recognize and understand this word. In that moment, although you still might not be bilingual, because of your efforts you will be a study abroad success.
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News Flash: Learning a Language is Hard
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