Starting From the Beginning Learning a New Language

Starting from the beginning and doing something for the first time is exciting. It can also feel hard and impossible not to compare myself to others. Thoughts constantly running in my heard such as:

"I want to be as good as they are”

“I will never be as good as them, it will take forever to speak a new language”

“I am starting all the way from the beginning, what’s the point?"

Then I remind myself of all the reasons I should be starting now and how that is a beautiful thing. How brave it is to start something new and go for something that you have always wanted to achieve. To not compare, but to instead be excited to challenge yourself and connect with others. 

During my experience at Spanish Adventure, I experienced many different emotions about learning a new language. At first, it was extremely difficult not being able to express myself fully or understand others around me. Feeling like I was missing out by not being able to understand what was being discussed or why others were laughing during lunch. The more I surrounded myself constantly with Spanish conversation, the easier I was able to tune in and focus simply on the words I understood. This allowed me to have some context to possibly understand what they were saying. As time went on, I began to learn more words slowly week by week and by the fourth week I went from understanding 10% to 40% of the conversations! 

Daily lessons with Rafa!

This also was the case for my daily lessons. During my lessons, learning a new concept such as SER and ESTAR, or PARA or POR, or as simple as saying “I take it” was nearly impossible for me to understand. I felt extremely frustrated with myself that I was unable to remember concepts or words after my class and to be honest, was ready to walk away and throw in the towel. It was then I had a moment of clarity- that I will never be able to learn a new language in its entirety in a few weeks. It takes time, energy, love and immersion to grow. It was when I realized this and stopped putting so much pressure on myself that concepts began to click and stay. I decided to let my guard down and started to speak more in Spanish with everyone at the school and in town. To know that there is no judgement, and I am at Spanish Adventure to learn and make mistakes, because you always learn from your mistakes! I let go of caring if I took five minutes to form a question, but instead be proud of myself for trying. 

In addition to incredible Spanish classes, the daily adventures and the beautiful nature of San Carlos helped the learning process tremendously. Having the time and opportunity to enjoy the refreshing rivers and picturesque mountains was the perfect way to decompress after class. It also allowed for more Spanish conversation and a way to learn about the culture of San Carlos and Colombia. The endless number of waterfalls and lush green forests filled with colorful birds and plants was the perfect way to enjoy our days.

JUST DO IT

Yes, I just copied the Nike slogan. In all honesty, it is truly one of my favorites to live by. It's so true, just do it...go for whatever you want to do. 

Getting started is where most of the resistance lies. Once that part is over, the rest will flow. Not getting overwhelmed with comparisons and "what if's", but just start and enjoy yourself and the process. All your desires, goals, wishes and dreams. It may sound crazy and hard to believe but trust me... they can all come true. If you believe in it, if you trust that you can do it and you put your actions behind your words, the universe will guide you exactly as you need. So, is learning a new language something you have always wanted to do? Have you always wanted to travel to Colombia? Or live in an authentic small village and feel like a local? 

Well then...Check out Spanish adventure! Immerse yourself in the beautiful culture of San Carlos and finally learn Spanish.  Remember, JUST DO IT! 

Why Learning a Language is the Ultimate Practice in Mindfulness

“¿Qué haces ahora?” 

“I’m going to dinner”, I replied, with my very basic Spanish. 

I had just arrived at my hostel in Medellin and the Colombian girl with whom I was sharing my room suggested that we get food together. Tired and hungry, I was glad to be accompanied by someone who knew the city. There was one caveat, however: she only spoke Spanish. It was the perfect opportunity to apply what I had been learning in class, but I wasn’t sure if I would be up to the challenge. 

We made our way to an Italian restaurant across the street. Over a large jar of sangria, we discussed our lives, our families, and our ambitions. At some point in the conversation, I noticed that I was doing something I had never done before; I was listening closely to every single word that she said. If I missed even one syllable, I risked missing the entire sentence completely. Learning a language is the ultimate practice in mindfulness. 

Practicing yoga before class.

What is Mindfulness? 

The concept of mindfulness has been growing in popularity in recent years. It refers to a mental state of complete awareness, and can be defined simply as, “... the basic human ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we’re doing, and not overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us” (“What is Mindfulness?”). In a world that has conditioned us to use our minds for a million different things at once, achieving this state requires practice. This can be done through a number of meditation exercises, and as I’d like to argue, through learning a language. Here’s why: 

You Are in the Present Moment

When you are listening to someone speak, watching a film, or listening to a song in a different language, all of your energy is being used towards understanding what is being said. You must not only listen, but also take in each word, process their meanings, and place them in the context of the sentence. You do not have the luxury of dozing off or of thinking about what you are going to eat for dinner. You are forced to be completely present in the current moment, which is not always the case with a language that you have been speaking since birth. 

You Think About What You Say

When it comes to speaking, you often do not have the ability to just spew off whatever nonsense pops into your mind. Before creating sentences in a new language, you need to think through everything you are going to say before you say it. Thoughtfully considering our words is something that we all ought to practice doing more often, even if we are speaking in our native tongue. 

One of our students engaging in conversation with a native speaker.

You Gain Compassion for Yourself and Others

Learning another language is hard work; plain and simple. You must be patient with yourself and your process, and accept that fluency will not happen overnight. It is also a beautiful thing to realize that you can form deep connections to people who do not speak your language. Here at Spanish Adventure, I’ve learned that it is not always the words that are spoken with a person that matter, but the feelings that you have while you are together. I truly believe that our common humanness is transcendent of language and any other myriad of things that may make us different. 

So… Are you ready to learn a language? 

Spanish Adventure is the perfect place to begin your language journey. Come join us in San Carlos for an exciting and immersive Spanish experience! All of the information about our programs can be found here.