Learning a new language can be challenging at times but mostly fun, especially if it’s a language you’re really into. In this article, we’ll discuss both the fun and pain of studying another language, as we have done so in the Creatinuum podcast episode “Multilingual Madness: Learning Different Languages.”
Image from multilinguallearner.org
When someone you know suddenly says they want to learn another language, you can easily tell why they want to do so. Most often, this interest is sparked by personal interests, such as wanting to understand K-dramas better, appreciating French literature, or connecting with Japanese culture, as we can see from the anime that we watch. We’ll try not to go where learning another language is required by most schools, because frankly, where’s the fun in that?
Moving on, the availability of online resources has made language learning more accessible than ever. Platforms like Duolingo and Coursera have made it possible for almost everyone to choose a language and learn it like a pro. From here, it’s hard to imagine how people from previous decades learned another language, studying it only through textbooks and dictionaries, most often not even having someone teach them how to pronounce each word.
To add to the difficulty of pronouncing words—whether in French, Korean, German, or Italian—context and tone also play critical roles in communication. For languages like Mandarin, slight changes in tone can alter the meaning of words entirely. As we have highlighted in the podcast, even something as simple as adding an “ey” or “ah” sound can transform a word’s meaning, and you can be badly misinterpreted when you commit errors in pronunciation.
Rightly so, most people learn another language much more quickly if it’s something that’s closely related to their native language. For instance, English and German share about 60% of lexical similarity, making it easier for English speakers to pick up the German language much faster. The same goes with Koreans and Japanese who are fluent in speaking both languages, as we can see from idols usually promoting themselves in both countries, as well as other multilingual individuals from both countries.
Nonetheless, learning a language involves mastery of skills in reading, writing, and speaking. For some individuals, these can be altogether three different things, like how sometimes you can write and read the words in another language but you find yourself having difficulty in speaking it. At other times, you can speak it fluently already but somehow struggle when it comes to reading and writing.
The point is no one really learns another language overnight. It takes a lot of patience, diligence, and consistent practice. In the podcast, we even emphasize how being out of practice can make you forget all your French and Korean —a whole year of studying it, only to forget it all once you stop speaking it or consuming any media that can exposes you to it.
To sum up, learning a new language opens up new worlds and perspectives. Whether you’re doing it for fun or to understand other cultures better or even just to challenge yourself, becoming multilingual is a skill that promises rewarding endeavors. After all, not many people can speak multiple languages, and doing so makes you stand out, demonstrating your skills and intelligence.
Listen in full to Creatinuum Episode 45: "Multilingual Madness: Learning Different Languages," available on Simplecast, Spotify, Apple, and other platforms.
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