LoginWhy You Shouldn’t Tell Your Friends That You are Learning a Language
When you start to learn a language, you should only tell a few of your friends. Why not tell all of your friends? Well some of your friends are negative people and you will be better off without their snide remarks.
However you should tell all your friends who will encourage you. This usually (but not always) includes anyone who speaks your new language, anyone who you know is working on that language and anyone who is generally positive about all things good.
Also, learning a new language is like losing weight because it takes effort over a longer period of time to make it work. So anything that helps you stick to a long term plan (like the support of positive friends) is a very good thing.
So tell all your positive friends that you are learning a new language. If your friends are encouraging you, you will learn faster and have more fun!
To make this easier for you, we have included a sample e-mail you can send your friends to tell them.
Dear Friends,
Just a short note to tell you that I am learning _______________ at https://language101.com . I would appreciate your encouragement and support. Also if you know anyone who speaks ______________ it might be fun to meet them.
Thanks,
If you liked this article please link to:
Why You Shouldn’t Tell Your Friends That You are Learning a Language
or e-mail this link to your friends.
JT –
It’s true – a lot of people are reactionary. That’s the entire basis of why negative people attract more negative people – it keeps the dysfunctional cycle of emotional addiction happening. Well that’s another website altogether now isn’t it?
Thanks for taking your time to read and respond to the great articles here at Language101.com
Thomas
I can vouch for your statement about negative people, because my father, friend, and cousin are very skeptical of my capacity to learn and fluently speak Spanish. I believe that I’ve made some progress, as I can follow clearly uttered, moderately-paced conversation or dialog in listening tests, but I still can’t grasp many native speakers on whom I endeavor to eavesdrop. I also speak like a gringo who still can’t trill his r’s. Frankly, I’m very discouraged. I am not even remotely bright in any regard, but I do have resolve. Should I just keep trying or resign myself to the prospect of never speaking it well? At the very least, can I make the stupid accent less noticeable?
E.S. –
Keep pushing through. Trilling your r’s can be one of the hardest things to do. It’s actually like your not doing it – the tongue actually has to relax for that sound and the air flowing over the tip causes it it to flap up and down. Check out this great Youtube video to learn it better:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjoOD8SVhos
As for your gringo accent – spend a few months in a Spanish speaking country. Your accent will surely begin to fall away and you will begin to mimic the speakers around you more and more.
Just keep paying attention, noticing where you make the sounds differently than the native speakers and make those little adjustments when you can.
Thomas