What is difficult?

Hello Everyone,

For those of you who have been following my blog since the beginning, you already know that I constantly question myself about the things I do. Learning a language is not an easy task; it requires dedication and cannot be approached with half-heartedness. In previous articles, I have shared simple tricks that I have used over the years to study different languages.

In today’s article, I want to share with you the challenging aspects of each language I have learned.

Aside from Italian, I will start with English. English was the first language I began to learn, and let me tell you, even after many years, I still have a lot to learn, especially regarding the appropriate context for different words. I remind myself that this is normal, particularly because Norway, where I live, is not an English-speaking country. Additionally, I do not use all the contexts, and I do not speak English as often as I should, although thankfully, we can always watch movies in their original versions.

So, what can I do to improve? I am currently reading an English book, which I believe is a good exercise to refresh my memory and learn new words. Given that we are in the Academy Awards season, I am watching all the nominated movies in their original versions, which are far superior to dubbed ones.

When I started university, I began learning Spanish and Portuguese. These languages were not too difficult to learn, but… there is always a “but.” I struggled with correctly placing accents on words and constructing hypothetical sentences in Spanish. Living in Spain for seven years certainly helped me improve my Spanish to an almost native level. As for Portuguese, the most challenging aspect was learning the nasal sounds and correct pronunciation, particularly in Brazilian Portuguese.

However, with these three languages, including my native Italian, it can be hard not to confuse words, especially false friends, as they are similar in all three languages but have different meanings. This can be quite confusing! Fortunately, I have the opportunity to practice speaking these languages with the Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian people I know here, allowing me to learn through trial and error.

The last language I tackled was Norwegian, which I had to learn because my life circumstances brought me to this beautiful country: Norway! Norwegian is similar to English, and like English, I find it challenging to know which words correspond to each context and use them correctly. Another difficulty is learning the various accents and dialects spoken here. It is challenging but also fascinating. Living here, working with Norwegians, watching Norwegian TV, and listening to the radio help me continually improve my language skills.

At this point, I wonder: Am I crazy? No, I just have a lot of information in my head. As I try to organize my brain into five compartments, one for each language, it takes time to put everything in its place. This is a bit crazy, hehehe!

Good luck to me!