History

I've been study foreign languages consistently since I was 13 years old. Technically, the first foreign language I tried to learn was French, as my mom tried to teach me some here and there. But the language never stuck and I wasn't really consistent with it.

The first language that I actually put proper effort in was Japanese. Yes, I did start learning it originally because I wanted to be able to watch anime without subtitles, but once I started, I was stuck on it! It came very naturally to me, not at all like French. And my mom found a free curriculum to include it for my high school lessons, so I think the schedule there helped me stick with it a lot!

When I graduated high school, I did for a while have a hard time sticking with it, especially with college classes getting in the way. Duolingo did help a lot in giving daily practice, simply so that I wouldn't forget what I already learned. Then, when I had more free time to put more effort into the language, I would pull out a workbook I bought or use flashcards or watch a YouTube video or do something else to practice. Duolingo has since fallen severely as a company and, I find, is largely inaccurate with its lessons thanks to it's stupid AI usage, but Busuu has worked as a good replacement and I think is a better app overall!

I focused on Japanese for years, and while I don't consider myself fluent, I do know enough to watch a basic high school anime without subtitles or watch a very basic Japanese vlog. I might not be able to hold a conversation, but I can listen and navigate pretty okay.

I have a hard time sticking with just one language though! Japanese is still my main focus, but I've been dabbling in all sorts of other languages. I took ASL in college, I've been learning German for three years, I'm trying to find more resources for Yoruba, and I regularly switch my Busuu to other languages based on where my BitLife character is that day. I know this isn't really a good way to get fluent, but that's not really my goal anymore. I'm moreso wanting to connect with as many different cultures as I can, so that I can understand other people better. Not necessarily in language, but in understanding. My brain changed a lot when learning Japanese because of how their grammar structure and language culture work, and I think it's important to know how language effects people's brains. It helps with misunderstandings!

I also try to have different things on in the background. I follow multiple foreign language podcasts to put on while I'm walking. Exposure, I think, is more important than study. Study makes you stilted and turns it into a chore. Exposure is natural and you pick things up easier when you hear it in the background multiple times. It helps with pronunciation too!

I don't know if I'll ever be fluent, but I don't think I can be considered monolingual anymore. I'm having fun and when I am able to read German or Chinese in the wild, I get really excited! I'm having fun and can talk to more people and understand more things as a result~

That said, my number one dream goal is being able to read a novel in a foreign language...hopefully I can fulfill that one day....even if it's a kids' novel, anything would be good.