Considering learning a new language? You'll have many questions.
Am I too old? (No! The myth that only children can learn languages is the most common fear.)
Do I have the talent? (Yes! People often wonder if language learning is an innate gift—rather than a skill that can be acquired through practice.)
Which method is best? We recommend learning with a native speaker, as part of a class with a common goal that keeps you accountable as you progress.
Learn with us, and you'll more easily answer questions like:
How do I practice speaking if I don't live in the country?
Is there enough content to keep me interested?
How do I reach the next level once I get past the basics?
At first, you and your classmates will make mistakes. Push through the challenges of constructing short sentences and understanding basic instructions. On the other side is a deeply significant reward: a higher threshold for ambiguity. You'll become more comfortable not knowing the answer, more patient with the process of growth, and less afraid of looking foolish.
This brings us to deeper, often unspoken questions.
How do I deal with the frustration of losing my personality?
People often feel as though they seem less intelligent or less funny in their target language. They struggle with that loss of agency. The flip side is that a second language learned in a more formal setting need not carry the deep, visceral emotional baggage of the "mother tongue." Many find, for instance, that when they navigate a high-stress dilemma in a foreign language, the emotional distance allows them to focus on the cold facts of the situation, often leading to less biased outcomes.
In the end, it's not unusual to have a different "self" that emerges depending on the language you are speaking. If you speak a language that is more direct or formal, you may feel your own personality become more assertive or polite.
Remember: You aren't just translating your personality; you're expanding it!
Will this change who I am?
Most language learners find that the process does change them: it shifts how they perceive the world, how they categorize concepts, and how they interact with other cultures.
Forego your own linguistic "default" and you'll experience another culture's way of expressing intent and emotion. Some languages have specific words for color nuances that others lack, meaning speakers of those languages literally perceive those color distinctions more sharply. Other languages use cardinal directions (north, south, east, west), rather than relative directions (left, right), forcing the speaker to maintain a heightened awareness of their orientation in the world. Learning a language can also change how you perceive the passage of time or the assignment of blame. For instance, accidents may in a certain language be described in a way that removes the actor: "the vase broke" versus "I broke the vase." Adopting these structures can shift your internal sense of responsibility and causality.
Indeed, learning a new language goes far beyond simply swapping out labels for objects. The brain actually undergoes physical changes. Studies have shown that bilingualism increases the density of grey matter in the left inferior parietal cortex. More robust neural pathways are built, which can delay the onset of dementia and Alzheimer's by several years.
A brain managing two systems of rules, sounds, and vocabularies—and suppressing one to use the other—becomes better at multitasking, filtering out distractions, and solving complex problems.
Ultimately, learning a language changes us by de-centering the ego. Learning a new language invariably reminds a person that the way they speak, think, and see the world is not the "objective" truth, but merely one of the many possible ways to exist. It turns the world into a much larger, more nuanced, and more hospitable place.
People considering learning a language are often subconsciously looking for this sort of transformation.
We're happy to oblige, in more than 35 different languages.