How To Learn A New Language

I am still working on my first interview but wanted to share a little side conversation about language and relationships. I found it both encouraging and inspiring to hear about this friend's reasons for learning a language.

After sharing how difficult it has been for her to learn Chilean Spanish, because of the difference in accent, the presence of many idioms, and the slang, Kara explained why she persisted. Knowing how hard she has worked at becoming fluent, I praised her constant drive and work ethic; wishing I had some of that myself. But she brought out a truth about human connection that is more important than the need to master something.

"I think my drive first came from wanting the language, but after that faded, it was the relationships. It came as a side-effect of the relationships which really mattered to me. [I] just continuously learn how to better communicate. So, in the end, it's not about the work ethic, because only relationships can inspire us to that extent."

There is a deep human need for connection that language facilitates. If we live in a country where we do not speak the language, it can be disorienting and deeply depressing. Being disconnected from those around us can even happen when we share a common language. The commonality of emotions: tears, smiles, furrowed brows, is always present. Yet we don't really begin to understand each other until we express what is going on inside of us through our words.

It might be easier to pull in and refuse to learn how to communicate, whether in our native tongue or one that we are still struggling to understand. But there will always be something missing if we take that route. People, relationships, and the connections in those relationships are so essential to our experience of this life; it is almost impossible to adequately describe why.

So I want to encourage you to follow Kara's example. Always seek to learn how to communicate better, and set the deepening of relationships as the goal for learning any language. Whatever you find will undoubtedly enrich your life.