Challenges of learning a foreign language

The thought of being able to converse in a foreign language sounds really exciting. As exciting as it may sound, it is equally challenging. I would like to particularly call this process challenging and not tough because learning a language is never tough. It is the persistency, consistency in learning and the “never say never” attitude that is tough to keep up with.

Learning a foreign language is not everyone’s cup of tea. WHY? Is it the capability aspect? Intelligence factor? Not at all! It is the motivation to remain consistent. It is the courage to be wiling to make mistakes and the willingness to learn from those mistakes. It is the hunger to be wanting to express ones  ideas, where he/she will spare nothing to get his message across. 

Often working individuals want to take up a language course as an add on skill or college graduates, for the sake of prerequisite for higher education abroad. Hence, the learning goal becomes very limited. The aim ends up, either to just pass the exam or atleast get a course participation certificate. It feels very satisfying to say earning an A in a language test means a person is moving toward fluency, but “that is far from real.” This way one does not learn the language. He just picks up a few structures here and there which would suffice to clear an exam with barely any or no learning at all.

Another very interesting point that I have noted is, we cannot leave our mother toungue or even English for that matter. We tend to literally translate every single word of a sentence not realizing that it actually doesn’t make sense in the language you are learning. One very simple example for this would be:

In English : Hi, How are you?

                     I am doing good .

(sounds right?)

Auf Deutsch: Hallo, wie geht es Ihnen?

Literal translation: Ich bin gut (I am good) (Disastrous literal translation)

Right way to answer: Es geht mir gut, und Ihnen?

Another note worthy point is the habit to pick up fancy lines or stale phrases from various sources just because it sound fancy and using them without even knowing the context or pretext. An interesting example for this is:

Auf Deutsch: Ich verstehe nur Bahnhof

Literal translation to English : I only understand train station

Actual meaning : The phrase is used when one does not understand anything.

If you go through and do a lot of verb conjugations and you're really good at putting verbs into the past perfect tense, it doesn't mean if you want to have a conversation with someone, that you're going to use the past perfect tense appropriately."

Whats the way out? How do we really overcome various challenges?

Well :

1.   To start with get your priorities sorted. Ask yourself why are you doing a language course? Is it for a fancy certificate or to actually learn?

2.   Well once you have that straight, SPEAK!!! Shed all inhibitions! Make mistakes. Make real bad ones. Speak like nobody is listening.

3.   You can't memorize a bunch of words and rules and expect to speak the language.  You need to dive in. Learn all the small nuances. Listen. Read. Write. Speak. Repeat.

4.    Connect with the language as a whole new culture, a whole new world but not merely as a communication tool.

Too old, not enough time, wrong genes ..these are just excuses. The reasons to learn a langugae may be different,but they can all be put into action in the same way: by committing yourself to embracing this new culture as a whole. J

I never thought I’d make it. Yet here I am… trying to get better than what I was yesterday. J

You know you’re capable of learning a new language. Don’t let your fear hold you back. J