When I started learning Spanish, I didn’t really have any intention of learning multiple languages. After all, I’d gotten along quite fine with two languages for the first 35 years of my life!
But then I fell in love with Spanish, and – even more surprisingly – with the process of learning Spanish.
I started this blog which, in hindsight, was rather poorly named. If I’d bothered reading any language blogs before actually starting my own, I would have known better than to use the tired word “fluent” in the title. Regardless, I started blogging. I also started participating in language forums, first at , and now at my new favourite place, .
It turns out that I really enjoy belonging to this open, welcoming club of language learners!
Spanish still is, and I suspect always will be, my true language love. But I’ve also started dabbling in other languages. My Spanish is strong enough that I can relax with native media, and use focused learning time to play with other languages. I have an on-again-off-again relationship with Tagalog. I played around a bit with Esperanto when Duolingo released its new course. And now, Italian has caught my eye.
We’re planning a whirlwind two-week Italian road trip in July with my mother-in-law, my sister-in-law, and my teenaged niece and nephew. So, why not learn some Italian? Right?
When I started learning Spanish, I jumped all over the place. I had fun. I learned quickly. I enjoyed every step of the way. I was anything but organized, but it was ok because I was having a great time!
Now, although learning Italian is a less serious goal, my approach to learning is much more purposeful. I know how I learn best, I know about many more resources, and I know that I can do this. (Oh yeah, and I also know Spanish, which apparently makes this whole Italian thing a lot easier!)
* please note: step one should probably be “learn Spanish”. Ha!
Over the next few weeks, as I fan away the clouds of dust from my poorly neglected blog, I hope to share a variety of different things: