Year in language

2021 was a very unexpected year in terms of my foreign language learning journey. since this time last year I have attended a language learning conference in German, got my best ever grades, learned 2 new languages, delivered a dance class in one of the new languages, started a language blog and unfortunately had to bid auf Wiedersehen to the amazing woman who ignited this passion. however just because Lisa can no longer be by my side doesn’t mean I am going to slow down my rollercoaster of a journey

You may remember that in late September I had to start learning polish at a day or so’s notice? Well I’m doing so well that I can now use past, present and future tenses with relative ease, because of the speed at which I am learning, I have decided that my next step is to make my polish as good as my German because essentially, I’m in the exact same situation that made my German so good. I have to speak it in my own home every week and I am towards the end of my Rosetta Stone course. the only difference between my polish this year and my German last year is that unlike German I don’t have a fixed class 4 times a week but that’s made up by the fact that I have longer shifts with my staff so if you add the hours of learning a week up, it works out to be about the same amount.

my second language learning goal for next year is to travel to Italy and participate in a class with the same dance group as I taught this summer. this has actually been a goal of mine since august 2019 but I started conversations with my mentor about the logistics this month so I’m hopeful that 2022 is the year that it’s going to happen!

a friend of mine got engaged to an Icelandic woman this year and because in his head I am some sort of genius who understands every language in the world , he keeps trying to speak to me in Icelandic and I don’t speak Icelandic so every time I’m like “sorry, what? english please” therefore my third and final new year goal is to learn enough Icelandic to know what my friend is saying or even the phrase “Zac speak English please”

in conclusion this year has been great for my language learning journey and even though I have lost my inspiration for taking up languages in the first place, I’m determined to keep nurturing this gift because she may be far away but she will be in my heart forever and if she is still reading this blog she would be pleased to know that I am still reaching for the stars

e e m Mcgrath💜🦖