Book Review of "Through the Language Glass", by Guy Deutscher

Hello, everyone and welcome back to my blog! For those of who you are new, my name is Laura and I’m a polyglot. Throughout my life, I have studied and spoken a total of 7 languages. In fact, I love languages so much that I’m a college senior majoring in Italian Studies and minoring in French and Russian Language. But even so, as much as I enjoy what I study, I acknowledge just how urgent and important it is to preserve all languages and their respective cultures- not just those that are commonly studied and are considered “dominant cultures”, or “world languages.”

Given my passions, my mom gifted me a book titled Through the Language Glass: Why the World Looks Different in Other Languages, by Guy Deutscher for Christmas. As I first started reading it, I was a bit hesitant as to whether or not I would like it, but decided to push through. I’m so glad that I did.

Despite traveling for 20 days total over break, I finished this book in about a week, which is fast for a slow reader like me. I simply enjoyed what the author had to say and could not take my eyes off the page. 

This book is about more than just linguistics and language. It’s about the beauty and power of celebrating cultures different from your own. If you read all 239 pages of the book, I can guarantee that you will have a better understanding of how culture influences our thought processes and way of life and vice-versa. You will ultimately have a better grasp on how we think and why we think the way we do.

Guy Deutscher explains these phenomenons primarily through the following concepts: the perception of color, the perception of space, and how gender influences how we view the world around us. He is by far one of the most well-read and clever linguistic authors I have come across so far, as he combines bits of history and culture to formulate his thoughts about and draw conclusions on how diverse and rich languages are on all corners of the planet.

This book’s chapters are quite long, but I didn't mind them, given that each chapter has a very detailed analysis of the study of linguistics and how it has evolved over time. I especially enjoyed the examples that he gives of languages that I have studied, as I was able to understand the cultural and historical context behind certain words, or sentences without having to look up their English translations.

However, I must admit that my favorite passages were those that mentioned tribal languages and “non-world-languages” about which you rarely learn in school. After finishing this book, I realized that though we are more similar to each other than we would think, we should not discount the millions of ways in which we can perceive the world. It’s not always black and white, or as standard as you would think. For example, many languages don’t have cases, two genders, and nouns. Some languages don’t even have a past, or future tense.

When thinking about these examples through a western lens, it may seem odd, but once we break down cultural and linguistic nuances of certain languages, we often find ourselves questioning how our own mother tongue functions and why it functions the way it does. These are the kinds of puzzles and mind-games that you will be able to solve if you get your hands on this book. I promise that you won’t be disappointed.

Until next time! // Hasta la próxima! // Jusqu'à la prochaine fois! // Bis zum nächsten Mal! // Alla prossima volta! // до следующего раза! // Até à próxima!

Love,

Laura

How Language Brings People Together

The title of this blog post may sound a bit odd, but I have recently been thinking about why language is so powerful and what distinguishes it apart from other aspects of our everyday lives. The response of which I kept on thinking was how language carries the power of bringing people together who would otherwise be strangers. There have been countless times in which I have found myself in a situation next to, or near an individual who I have never met. If there were a language barrier, the most amount interaction that I could have with a person would be by making gestures, or by trying to make out words in an unfamiliar tongue. If you decide to take on a lifelong journey around the world, you will be bound to end up in this kind of situation at some point, but one cannot deny the awkwardness, or perhaps frustration that one feels when that happens. 

Let's imagine the opposite scenario by using myself as an example. Before coming to Germany and deciding to study at an institute, I could barely formulate coherent thoughts when it came to being in emergency-type situations, such as asking for directions at the metro, otherwise known as the S-Bahn. As I slowly started learning more vocabulary, speaking more with my classmates, and gaining more confidence, I knew that I could get myself out of almost any kind of survival situation in German. Words such as "go straight and then make a left", or "we have not reached that stop yet" started to become familiar, and important everyday verbs, such as "to hop on", and "to hop off," became part of my everyday vocabulary. By saying "Excuse me, could you help me find [insert]. I am trying to get to [insert]," I found that every person that I asked was friendly and did not hesitate to answer my questions, even if I had to wait a few seconds for a response.

Now let's talk about more meaningful ways that language impacts not only my life, but also the lives of billions. I will use the example of studying at an institute, since the common goal of everyone who studies at one is to speak the same language. Although having classmates from around the world is appealing, it oftentimes means that you cannot speak the other person's native language. For example, I cannot speak any Asian language and there are many students who are not very comfortable speaking English. That ultimately means that the language that unites us, or our common language, is not English, but rather German. 

German is the language in which we joke with one another, in which we laugh, in which we complain, and in which we celebrate. We question in and respond in German and have a complete and authentic immersion experience in the classroom, which not only forces us to speak to each other in German, but that also makes us want to actively use it to continue improving our skills. We learn from each other and ask each other for clarifications, because, ultimately, we have all learned different material, vocabulary, and grammar throughout our lives. Since we are not perfect and still have a lot on which we could improve, we build a community within and outside of the classroom. I now trust them and want to continue strengthening those friendships in the future. 

Because of my study of many languages, I have connections and friends in virtually every continent in over 40 countries. The obvious advantages of this gift are that you can visit friends in different parts around the world and that you have the opportunity to learn about other countries and cultures from individuals who belong to them. On the other hand, one of the most beautiful gifts that you can have is having compassion for others and having a willingness to understand individuals who are different than you, either by speaking to them in their native languages, or by speaking to them in a common language. No matter where my life takes me, I know that more than a handful of my international and different-minded friends will have my back and that I will be able to count on them. Better yet, I will always have language partners and friends who I know are willing to help me improve my language skills and to push me to ultimately reach my maximum potential. 

If you gain anything from this post, I hope that you realize the power that language has in making groups of people, and communities stronger and more open-minded. Language allows two strangers to eventually become best friends. Without barriers, you are unstoppable. 

The Power of Language

Starting at a young age, I have been fortunate enough to be exposed to different kinds of people and places around the world. I will admit that, at the time, I did not think much about it and simply embraced it as an important part of my everyday life. Over a decade later, I am sharing my personal experiences and stories of what has arguably been the most powerful gift that I have ever received, and, that is the power of language.

Language is what I look forward to as soon as I get up in the morning and before I fall asleep at night. It is what keeps me motivated and what gives me drive in everything into which I put my energy and in everything that I want to accomplish. Language is what allows me to reach to communities and individuals that I otherwise would simply pass by without having any kind of interaction. 

Language is what allows me to be flexible, curious, independent, and a good teammate. Language is the glue that holds my family together. It is what keeps us alive, healthy, and positive. It gives up hope for a better tomorrow, hope that we will someday reunite despite the distance that separates us.

Language is what has set me apart from most of my classmates. It is the tool that I have used in order to hear others out in times of distress and in times of hopelessness. It is what I listen to whenever I am teary-eyed and miss my parents while at college. Language is what keeps me alive and what allows me to think about situations through different lenses. It is what could allow me to talk to over 1.4 billion of the world’s population. Now, that, is incomprehensible, powerful, and unique.

Throughout my life, and, especially now that I am an adult, I have had a hard time coming to terms with what I consider to be my identity. The United States considers me to be Hispanic or Latino, but, when someone asks me who or what I am, I respond that I am Colombian. As much as I want to fully consider myself Colombian, I have never lived there and mostly know about my homeland through my parents’ stories and through the trips that I have had, yet I do not completely feel American, and do not completely feel Colombian-American. One day, I talked to my mom about my confusion and asked her for advice. She said “Laura, if you do not consider yourself any of the above, you can tells others that you are a world citizen.” Although I only heard those words once, they completely changed my life. Whenever I feel lonely or frustrated with who or what I am, I say that I am a citizen of the world. I can say that because of my gift to communicate with many people around the world.

Now that my freshman year of college is almost coming to a close, I have never felt more like myself or happier than I do now. I no longer have to hide part of myself, or pretend to be someone with whom I do not feel comfortable. I have enjoyed going to German and to Russian Table on Tuesdays, to Italian and Spanish Table on Wednesdays, and to French Table on Thursdays. I have watched films, have eaten meals, have written, spoken, and read in 7 languages. I have written essays, read novels, have analyzed, and have had to think critically in 4 languages, and continue to keep in touch with my friends who live in over 20 states and 20 countries in 5 continents.

In high-school, my family hosted students from New Zealand and from Thailand, and have childhood friends from Puerto Rico, Colombia, Mexico, and Venezuela. I am blessed to have gone to a bilingual elementary school for Spanish and English and to have studied 3 languages in high-school and 3 new ones in college. I have also become closer with the teaching assistants and professors from different countries by speaking to them in their mother tongues. It is what gave me a scholarship to college, it is the reason why I was recognized for academics in high-school, and it is why I am who I am today.

As the video above says, language is what bridges gaps in communication and in cultural exchange. Precise meanings of what you are trying to convey oftentimes get lost in translation, but feeling and thinking in another language can help you get beyond that. Language is what reaches to other people’s hearts and what allows you to have another shoulder on which to cry. I cry, ponder, question, respond, and react in a different language depending on the situation in which I am and with who I am. 

The beauty of it all is that I do not have to rely as heavily on someone else to get out of a situation, or to understand what is happening around me. Whenever I am in a diverse city, I overhear fragments of conversations around me, allowing me to have the world at my hands. I, along with other polyglots, are nowhere near perfect, but we do share something in common: the ability to reach out to others no matter what their needs are.

Now, more than ever, we need people to live in peace together, but we cannot even begin to solve our world’s problems if we cannot communicate with each other. Communication is what has bridged gaps and has taught me the importance of being patient and respectful of individuals who practice, believe, or think differently than I do. Over the years, I have learned to become more tolerant and adaptable to almost any kind of situation. Even a simple “have a nice day”, or “I hope that you feel better” can make all of the difference in the world and can brighten up somebody’s day. It can make someone who is homesick feel loved and welcomed, or can help someone escape his or her country. It is hard, time-consuming, and requires patience, but that is what makes it rewarding and worth it.

Language is by far the most powerful tool that my parents gave me and that I have fostered. It is not only a part of me, but it is also what I embrace. For better or for worse, I know that I can continue to bring individuals closer together and avoid confusion and misconceptions from taking place.

I believe that this world can become a happier place and know that we can change our lives and the lives of others by learning to respect each other. Language is what will ultimately make this dream become a reality.

Dream. Believe. Achieve. Now, that, is the power of language. I will end this post with my all-time favorite quote by Nelson Mandela: "If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart." 

How are Language and Culture Related?

I wanted to start off this post by briefly describing what inspired me to write this post. I am the kind of person who likes to write from the heart and who writes about what I have observed and have learned over the years, especially when it comes to languages. I recently had the privilege of having two internationally well-known Spanish authors come into my Spanish classroom (their names are Ana Merino and Manuel Vilas) who shared their experiences of what it means to be a writer and what languages personally mean to them. My fascination of linguistics and what languages can do to others is what I want to share with you.

One of the most important points that the authors made was that each language has its own, unique grammar and ways of being able to express yourself. Depending on which language you speak, you will have to adapt and change the way in which you think. You cannot simply rely on translating passages literally from your native language into another language, because that is not what languages are about. Instead, languages are a way to understand other cultures and have a deeper and to have a better understanding about the world around you.

Manuel Vilas gave us an excellent example about how careful you have to be when you try to translate sentences into another language. In Spanish, “I love you” is “Te quiero” or “Te amo.” The pronoun “yo”, which means “I”, is often omitted whenever native speakers use this phrase, because it is redundant. In Spanish, we oftentimes omit personal pronouns, because we can tell about whom someone is talking by simply paying attention to the conjugation of a verb. In this particular phrase, the person who you love is more important than the person who loves another person in Spanish, but is the opposite in English. This does not mean that one language is more correct than the other, but it is curious that Spanish speakers think about love in a different way. That being said, I will talk about some of the most memorable sentences that these authors told us in their mother tongue, Spanish, and will translate what they said in parentheses.

 “Cuanto más conocimiento tienes, eso es ser mas libre” (“The more knowledge you have, the freer you are”). I thought that this quote was incredibly powerful. It shows that knowledge is power and that power is language. If this is true, then that means that languages are a means to deepen and change your lenses on how you view and perceive the world. “Las culturas no se pueden perder…la literatura te da la capacidad de generar ideas” ("Cultures cannot be lost…literature is what give you the ability to generate ideas"). One could argue that it is not necessary to speak other languages in order to be open-minded and have a true appreciation for individuals who believe or practice something other than with what we grow up due to globalization. However, globalization has created an even bigger necessity to understand others, because our world is more interconnected than it has ever been.

 “El aprendizaje de los idiomas [es] la forma lingüística de la lengua… [que te da] pensamientos diferentes [que] son complementarios… [uno aprende de culturas a través de] la literatura…[tienes] posibilidades infinitas de comprender el mundo [y te da] un crecimiento de la libertad [que es] la base de las humanidades, [junto con] un enriquecimiento [en] la vida [porque] vez el mundo a través de otra lengua…una sintaxis construye la identidad”.

*Learning other languages [is] a linguistic form of language… [that allows you to have] different thoughts [that] are complementary… [you learn about cultures through] literature… [you have] infinite possibilities to understand the world [and it gives you] a growth in freedom [that is] the base of the humanities, [as well as] an enrichment [in your] life [because] you see the world through another language…a syntax creates identity.”

“[La] teoría fusión [dice que] la motivación incrementa [cuando uno aprende un idioma] si puedes pensar creativamente…[la] biculturidad lingüística [te ayuda a] tener oído. [La literatura te ayuda a acceder] la identidad de una lengua. Aparece la historia de una lengua. [Cada país tiene] identidades históricas diferentes…”

*[The] fusion theory [says that] your motivation increases [when you learn another language] if you can think creatively… linguistic biculturalism [allows you to] have a good ear. [Literature helps you to access] the identity of a language. The history of a language appears. [Each country has] different historical identities”.

As I have only recently started to grasp, there are only so many friendships that I could make, and only so many places that I could visit if I only spoke English. The beauty of speaking 6 languages is that I have friends from 6 continents and islands, allowing me to have connections around the world. I believe that you can only truly understand a language if you understand its cultures and that you can only truly understand cultures if you understand their languages. You can try to inform yourself about all of the current events about a country and make friends with people from that country, but you will miss out on key details that cannot be explained as easily, or as precisely if you cannot understand that country’s language.

In order to understand disasters, or accidents, we must be able to communicate with the enemies, or with those who thought that something was morally right when we think that it was the opposite. Remember, that no one language or culture is better than another, but each one is different. In my opinion, the best way for our world to become a safer and a happier place is if we learn to hear each other out and learn about each other in each other’s mother tongues (not through translations, or transcriptions), because that would leave more room for error, or misunderstandings. That is the power of language.

How to Stay Motivated When Learning a Language

An obstacle that many language learners eventually face is a lack of motivation, or drive to continue learning a language. Oftentimes, many end up giving up learning their target language altogether, or put it off to the side for enough time, that they eventually end up forgetting everything that they had worked towards. My blog’s aim is to help you boost your confidence, and motivation by giving you tips on how to effectively approach learning a new language. Even though we all have different experiences and learning styles, most of my posts can help you reach towards whatever language learning-related goal that you have.

If you have felt that you have been learning a language for a while, but have made little to no progress with it, you are not alone. I know how frustrating it can be to not understand what someone else is saying, or to tell yourself “I only understand about twenty percent of what is being said on this show”. I have compared myself to others endless amount of times, and have felt stagnant process. That being said, there are easy solutions that can help you get back on track, and that can help remind you why you started learning your target language in the first place.

I am going to start off by mentioning the three tips that the famous hyperpolyglot Alex Rawlings gives in the video above, and will also give you some tips that I have found helpful over the years.

1. Have fun learning the language

Instead of learning a language the traditional textbook way, find television series, movies, books, YouTube channels, music, and other resources with which you can personally connect, based on your personal interests. If you are mostly interested in the cultural aspects of your language, then find resources that address cultural norms, issues, and customs. If you are lucky to have a friend who is a native speaker, then make sure to practice with him, or her. 

What is most important is to not make learning a language something to check off of a list. It should be part of your everyday routine, and should be enjoyable. If you are finding that your approaches are not effective, or are making you feel behind, then change them. It is never too late to change your approaches. In fact, it gives you more motivation to continue with a language if you are constantly finding new, interesting, and relevant materials that pertain to your goals, your personal interests, and your professional interests.

2. Treat yourself, travel if possible

After finishing studying for your French exam, or reviewing vocabulary, make sure to reward yourself with something that you like. I personally like to treat myself by watching YouTube videos for a study break, or by listening to some of my favorite international music, as it helps to relax me. By giving yourself incentives, you are more likely to want to put a certain amount of study, and effort in your target language.

As time goes on, and as you start improving in all aspects of the language, you can start thinking about traveling to a country in which your target language is spoken. When you feel comfortable enough to do this, you can more easily see the significant progress that you have made by interacting with a culture that is associated with that language, and by interacting with locals, and native speakers. This is incredibly rewarding, especially if you are not learning a common language. Locals love it whenever you take the time to thank them, or speak to them in their native languages. In my opinion, and in many polyglots’ opinions, traveling is the best way to completely immerse yourself into another culture with the help of a strong foundation in its language. Who knows? You might end up meeting some friends along the way.

3. Set realistic goals

This is one of the most important pieces of advice that I will give you. We should set realistic goals that can be met by a specific time of the year. The more specific your goals are, the more likely it is that you will be able to meet them. An example of an unrealistic goal would be wanting to become fluent in a language after one year. Although that is a very nice thought, you cannot expect yourself to master all aspects of a language in the beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels after one year. You can definitely make a lot of progress in that amount of time, but it is not the same as being fluent. On the other hand, examples of realistic goals would be wanting to understand children’s books with minimal help from a dictionary, or having a basic conversation with a native speaker after a few weeks of intensive study. Once you think that you have successfully met your goals, you can eventually make your goals more difficult, and more specific to continue to push yourself to become a better learner.

4. Remind yourself why you started to learn the language

Whenever you are feeling unmotivated, or upset with your progress, or with what you are teaching yourself, remind yourself why you started to learn that language in the first place. This will help give you a goal to work towards, and reasons to continue learning it. Some common reasons are to connect with other cultures, to connect with family members or with friends, to increase global understanding, to travel, or to be able to read books, or watch books in their original languages. If your original intention changes, then make sure to either make a mental note of why you are currently continuing to study the language, or write it down, so that you have a constant, or a daily reminder about your new intentions.

5. Interact with speakers of the language

I cannot stress enough how rewarding it is to be able to have advanced conversations with friends who have spoken your target language for their entire lives. Even if you make mistakes as you are speaking it, or have to ask them to repeat words if you cannot hear them well, the ability to express yourself in a sophisticated, and in a complete way allows you connect to others’ hearts. It helps you understand parts of their culture that could not be as easily conveyed in English, or in languages other than in their mother tongues. Since I can personally connect with international students whose first language is not English, I prefer to speak to them in their native languages if I speak them. This has made them feel at home, and has made them be appreciative of my efforts to take the time and learn more about them.

All in all, no matter which kinds of roadblocks or problems you are facing in your language-learning journey, there are fixes for them that can help you have a fresh start, and a new mindset. Getting rid of all of the negative energy, and pessimism will help clear your brain, allowing you to make more progress. Remember that what matters is not how fast you progress, but rather reaching your personal goals at your own steady pace.

How Does Language Change Your Brain?

Have you ever wondered if individuals who speak more than one language see the world in a different way than monolingual speakers do? If you answered yes to this question, then I will hopefully give you many reasons why languages not only change your brain, but also change your perspectives on life. The video that I attached down below answers one of the most interesting, and relevant questions about language learning: How does language change your brain?

Some of the most fascinating facts that were presented in the video were that whenever you speak more than one language, specific parts of your brain will get bigger. That is to say that you brain grows in size for every language that you learn. For anyone who falls into this category, he/she has improved cognitive function, better concentration, and attention span than monolingual speakers, showing that speaking more than one language is good for your brain. In my opinion, this is the case because your brain has to be comfortable getting out of its comfort zone whenever it encounters something that is unfamiliar. It has to think really hard, and make connections with patterns, and ideas that it has already learnt. Studies have also shown that children who learn more than one language at an early age have better cognitive function as an adult, which helps slow down brain aging. You are less likely to have diseases such as Alzheimer’s, and have a healthier brain.

What exactly can be shaped by language? Culture is a huge component, because it is with what you grow up, and with what you are surrounded. It teaches you what is culturally appropriate, and what you should do in many different situations through the use of language to express these ideas. If you grow up in a household where more than one language is spoken, or speak more than one language, you know that languages differ in what they convey. Languages determine how you think about what is around you. They help shape your world, and make images in your head vivid, rich, and colorful. The man in the video also says that we ascribe ideas of words based on our own language, which is very true. For example, some English speakers have a harder time understanding the concept that most languages have feminine and masculine words, and, sometimes, neuter words. I have always associated objects as masculine, feminine, or neuter, and see my world through those lenses.

My favorite part about this video is when he says that languages are a “prism in which we see the world.” Because of my ability to speak many languages, I dream in them, am more culturally aware, am less sensitive to talking about concepts that would be seen as uncomfortable or not culturally appropriate in our culture, and, best of all, have expanded the size of my brain in the process. It would be interesting to see which parts of my brain have changed over time, and how they have affected my ability to retain grammar, and words in more than just my mother tongue. Do you fit into this category? If so, have you noticed having the benefits stated above? Feel free to think about these questions. 

Being Afraid of Making Mistakes in Another Language

Ironically, I believe that what hinders, and discourages most people from continuing to make progress with a language is making the mistake of not making mistakes. By the end of this post, I hope to convince you that what has kept you from moving from one level of language learning to the next is the fact that you have been too scared of being wrong. Believe me, I used to be one of the shyest girls in my grade, and rarely voluntarily raised my hand to volunteer, or to ask questions. Many people often discourage others to raise their hands, or to ask questions unless they know the right answers. In school, I always wanted to be right, and wanted to impress my classmates by answering complex questions.

This is where I went wrong. I was always expecting perfection. I gave myself unrealistic, and high expectations. I would easily become frustrated, and would tell my parents that 10, or more years of French had been useless. If this situation sounds similar to yours, do not be worried. Luckily, I have learned that we cannot expect perfection, not even those of us who are OCD, or are perfectionists. If we expect to not make any mistakes when speaking, or dealing with aspects of our target language, we will automatically fail. Even though I am technically considered a native English speaker, English was my second language, and I rarely ever speak it at home, putting me at a disadvantage from most of my classmates. But even so, I have clarified grammar points, or how to spell words to people who are native English speakers. This shows that even native speakers can make mistakes. That is the beauty of being human: learning from our mistakes, and pushing ourselves to our limits.

Instead, what I encourage you to do is to try to speak every time that you get a chance to do so. If you have not already done so, and have studied a language for years, it is never too late to start doing so. What Benny Lewis (the famous polyglot that I have already mentioned) has said is that language is used to communicate and to share ideas with others. If you can write, and read in a language well, that is impressive, but if you cannot understand its native speakers, or speak it, then you have failed to do what a language is meant to do. Let’s compare languages to math (a subject that I was never good at). If you memorize an equation and know for what it is used, but you cannot apply it to real-world situations, then it is as if you did not know the equation. Language-learning requires you to step out of your comfort zone, and to learn from your mistakes.

Being a native Spanish speaker, there have been many times in which my friends have wanted to practice their Spanish with me. In my opinion, those who have done so successfully are not the ones who had perfect grammar, or who used complicated vocabulary to try to impress me. Instead, those who made grammar or vocabulary mistakes, or who translated words literally from English to Spanish are the ones who were brave. Why? The reason is simple. They were willing to say what they knew, and spoke to me in a natural way. Native speakers also pause, and sometimes have to think about what they want to say the way that they want to say it, but that is part of communication. What matters is that you are trying, that you are willing to learn from your mistakes, and then correct them. Being fearless is what separates bad language-learners from exceptional ones.

Before ending this post, I will share a small anecdote to hopefully inspire you to start speaking your target language as often as possible, even with native speakers. I started taking German I as a sophomore in high-school, and had hopes to someday reach the AP level. At the time, I was trying to do this on a whim, and forgot about this goal for a long time. When I went to a language immersion camp for a month-long high-school credit program, I was attempting to learn enough German in order to skip German II, and move on to Honors German III as a junior. At first, the task was daunting. I was placed into the third level out of six after only taking German for a school-year, and having little to no writing or speaking practice.

There were several people in my group who had taken German for 2 years, a girl who had taken it for 4 years, and a boy who had gone to the camp for 3 years. I was definitely the underdog in the group, but pushed myself out of comfort zone every day. I asked my teacher clarification questions, and used the little vocabulary, and grammar that I knew. By the end of the session, I had only spoken in German from breakfast through dinner time for 10 days (a language pledge that you could choose to do), something that I would have never imagined of accomplishing. How did I manage to learn so much in such a short amount of time? I was fearless. I was brave, and made many mistakes. I conjugated verbs incorrectly, and blanked on words, but could not freely express myself, and used what I knew.

I had girls in my cabin who had had years of practice with the language, which only pushed me to keep on learning more. The first day of camp, I could barely formulate a sentence. One of my friends claims that she could not understand what I was trying to say that day. However, by the end of the camp, I could easily communicate with girls who had gone to the camp for 10 years. This shows that speaking is the most important aspect of a language. Do not worry, and take a few deep breaths. Speaking is not as scary as it seems. Native speakers are not trying to look down upon you. Instead, we want to encourage you to keep on striving to reach your language-learning goals.