The Beauty of Learning a Language: A Journey of Persistence and Growth

At the age of 15, faced with the choice between French and Spanish, I opted for French. Despite living in Southern California, where Spanish surrounded me, French felt like an escape. The elegance, mystery, and romance of French culture captivated me through films like Breathless and Cleo from 5-7. Even the classroom ambiance, adorned with pictures of the Loire Valley and Montmartre, made the experience feel cinematic. French became my refuge during a tumultuous upbringing—a sanctuary of structure, beauty, and dreams of a distant elsewhere.

The Initial Struggles

Learning French was no easy feat. The nasal vowels and passé composé challenged me, but I clung to my textbook like a lifeline. However, as life unfolded, my French studies took a backseat. Despite attempting to practice at home, unforeseen circumstances, such as my mother’s early signs of Alzheimer’s, derailed my plans of studying abroad. My passion for French gradually waned, fading into the background of lost aspirations.

A Rekindled Flame

Years later, a chance encounter with a French school in New York City reignited my dormant love for the language. Amidst juggling graduate thesis deadlines and self-doubt, I found solace in the intimate classroom setting, despite feeling out of place among polished professionals. Through persistent attendance and overcoming initial struggles, I discovered that progress is not always linear; sometimes, showing up is the greatest victory.

Psychotherapist Amy Morin emphasizes that tying one’s self-worth to competence can hinder growth, leading to unrealistic expectations and early burnout. Embracing the learning process, no matter how gradual, is key to finding joy in the journey.

Embracing Failure and Growth

Clinical psychologist Paul Losoff underscores the societal pressure to equate self-worth with success, making failure seem threatening in adulthood. Diversifying interests and nurturing unconditional self-worth can buffer against the impact of setbacks.

Adult learning, characterized by scaffolding and gradual skill-building, offers a structured path through challenges. Research highlights the benefits of academic grit in fostering critical thinking and independent learning skills, applicable to adults pursuing long-term goals or professional development.

Cultivating the right mindset is crucial, as genuine growth entails embracing mistakes, practicing patience, and persevering through setbacks. The journey of language learning is a testament to the transformative power of resilience and determination.

Embracing the Journey

Despite not yet achieving fluency, I’ve embarked on learning Italian, embracing the joyful messiness of the process. Each day brings new challenges and embarrassing blunders, but the act of persevering holds the true essence of success.

As I continue on this linguistic odyssey, I’ve come to realize that true growth lies in the journey itself—the small victories, the persistent efforts, and the unwavering commitment to learning and evolving. In the end, it’s not about mastering a language but about mastering the art of resilience and growth.

Photo courtesy of Rido/Shutterstock

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