dyl · 4 answers · 5y

(full disclosure: I cant remember if I've asked this before or not)

do you speak any languages other than english? + if you could wake up tomorrow knowing 3 additional languages which ones would you pick?

Unfortunately, I am monolingual and do not speak any language other than English. It's something I want to fix, I'd love to speak another language like many of my friends. I've taken several years of Spanish in public school, along with 2-4 years of French after that, and two Japanese classes. I was held back by social anxiety (we were made to take oral examinations in front of the whole class, and I was laughed at for my voice) so I refused to take any of it seriously to save face and stress. I regret my decision.

If I could wake up tomorrow knowing three additional languages, they would be:
1. French
2. Japanese
3. American Sign Language

My reasoning is as follows:

French: When I was in junior high, I had to choose a language path. I did not want to follow in my brother's footsteps and take Spanish; I wanted to be different. There were not many options, so I settled with French. I was laughed at for my voice by the second week of class and switched to Robotics immediately. I would take French again in senior high with a genuine interest, but again I was afraid of speaking out loud in front of anyone... so I would refuse to speak. Now as an adult I have visited Paris and fell in love with the city despite it's piss-scented subways, crowded buses, and pickpocket problem. I wish beyond anything that I had taken French seriously in school, I wanted so badly to talk to the people around me, even if it was just to show appreciation for helping us navigate the trains when we first arrived. I'd love to go back.

Japanese: I had my dark weeaboo days just like everybody else, and although I've outgrown that phase of my life, I would still love to be fluent in Japanese to have something extra in common with Levi. It would be delightful if we could talk with one another in Japanese, if I could help him practice, and we could enjoy more things together. He has tried casually to teach me basic things but I am just too afraid of failure again to put any time into learning.

American Sign Language: I had an opportunity to learn American Sign Language (ASL) in community college, but I was discouraged from taking the course because it would not count toward my foreign language requirement in my degree program. I took Spanish instead. Now I wish I had taken it because there are times I am simply exhausted with talking and of hearing people talk, but I still would not mind communicating and holding a conversation. ASL would be a saving grace when I just want things to be quiet.

Honorable mentions are Spanish and Hebrew, the former for it's use and utility in the country with an increasing number of Spanish speakers, and the latter for my postponed conversion to Judaism.

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