I once made a dare with someone to learn the hardest language in the world, and during that time I was a person who was never interested in learning languages. Learning a language felt just like a mountain too high to climb for me, and I also felt like it was pointless due to the advanced translation apps nowadays. However, as someone with a stubborn personality, I could not just drop what I said I would do. I am a person who keeps my word, even if it is just to prove something. So I started to get into it because I had nothing to lose anyway. But during my journey of learning this language, a door opened to an entirely different world, and I never once regretted it. Instead, my fascination grows day by day, which fuels my motivation to continue learning until I master it.
I feel like I have been broadening my horizons ever since I started learning this language. I met countless native speakers from various regions who introduced me to their culture, customs, and most importantly, their cuisine :D. I have had the opportunity to try many dishes, some of which became my favourite. But that’s not all, I have also been introduced to art, philosophy, and history. I gained a lot of knowledge I would have never gained if it were not for learning this language.
Furthermore, the feeling of accomplishment every time I learn something new feels amazing. Sure, I still have moments where I struggle, but at the same time those moments motivate me because once I manage to successfully get it, the feeling of accomplishment feels even better. The release of those spurts of happy hormones makes it totally worthwhile.
Also, I feel like it has improved my memory. I tend to remember things better and quicker because I am constantly training my memory by memorising new vocabulary every single day. I thought maybe it was just what I thought, but when I looked it up on the internet, I found out that there are plenty of studies that conclude that learning languages is excellent for the mind. It keeps my mind young, literally.
Besides, it can be quite fun, because nobody expects you to know a certain language. You can listen to two people conversing, and they would have no idea that you understand what they are talking about. It gets funny the moment you join the conversation, and they become perplexed but also impressed that you know their language. People love it when you know their language. It is also a good way to close the distance between you and someone instantly. This is something a translator can never replace.
Finally, it is a nice way to fill in time or occupy yourself. For example, when you are working, waiting for the bus, or you finished your exam earlier, and you have little to do, but you cannot use your phone or anything: you can play with the words you know and form sentences inside your mind. You can practise language anywhere and everywhere.
I totally recognise the feeling that it would be pointless to learn a new language, because of having a smartphone and always being able to translate everything. Thank you for writing about the benefits of learning a new language! I think it is very inspiring. How do you learn languages? Do you make use of your phone or other digital technologies?
Hi! I had the same question as Franka asked above! What sources do you use to learn the language, a phone with an app or a website? And is it all digital or do you still make use of a notebook to write down words and/or sentences? And, last but not least, what language do you learn?
I am very curious as to which language you picked to learn, because we often hear the term ‘hardest language’ thrown around, even though the difficulty of one is dependent on so many different factors and it means something different to every person you ask. Regardless, I definitely agree that learning languages is an amazing way of connecting with people and their cultures, since so much love and care is imbedded into each word.
I am also a really stubborn person that once sets their mind on something, will continue on doing it until they succeed in it. I think it is a really good quality in terms of learning new languages. Also as you said, what is there to loose, you will gain way more than you can possibly “loose”. And the feeling of accomplishment when you understand something without a translating app is nothing to compare to.