Polyglot

Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think that I would one day learn to speak multiple languages. I’m a polyglot and I can’t say I know anyone else who knows as many languages as me. I personally love it. I learned languages as a child with my parents, out of necessity, and by choice. I love them all in their own way because they’ve each brought amazing gifts into my life one way or another.

Portuguese was my first language to learn and I learned it while living in Brazil as a child with my parents. I learned it like anyone else learns to speak a first language - you don’t think about it, it just happens. I’m fluent in speaking, reading and writing it. I’m thankful my parents continued to enforce it at home after we moved to America because today I’m able to talk to my family and friends who live there. As well as teach it to my children. (John also speaks Portuguese!)

Fast forward 10 years later. Believe it or not my second language was Spanish, not English like many would think. My family had moved to America and I was a 10 year girl sitting in a classroom surrounded by students from all over the world but not one child spoke Portuguese like me. The closest language to my own was Spanish - so I learned it to be able to communicate and make friends. It was fairly easy for me to learn Spanish because many words are the same as in Portuguese. I felt good about it.

However, my teacher eventually told my mom through a translator that I needed to start focusing in learning English, not Spanish. And that’s when it became hard.

I shut down. I wouldn’t say a word. I was so afraid of saying something wrong and being misunderstood. Whereas I had confidence speaking Spanish and making friends, now I felt alone and completely lost. I didn’t know how I was going to learn English. It seemed so hard. I had lost my confidence. But I did like music and it matters to me to sing the words of the song correctly - not that I sing but when I did sing in the shower 😆 I wanted to say the words correctly. So I began recording songs I liked off of the radio (who remembers doing that?!) and then I would phonetically write out all the words to the song in a notebook. Later I would go back and try to find the word in the dictionary. It was fun.

I carried my tiny Portuguese-English dictionary everywhere I went.

It took time. A year passed. But eventually I started to learn English from my favorite teacher whom I had two years in a row and the reason I became an English teacher myself.

Years later as a teen, I learned French in school. It wasn’t a “dream” to learn French, it was basically an easy A grade in high school. French, like Spanish, is very similar to Portuguese so I didn’t think twice. I took at least two years of lessons but unfortunately forgot everything because I don’t speak it regularly. It’s a shame I don’ remember it although if I read something in French I may be able to understand some of it. Now thinking back, I should’ve taken Greek classes in high school instead, had I known I would marry a Greek and move to Greece 🤷🏻‍♀!

Speaking of Greek…

I met John almost 22 years ago. He spoke Greek at home with his family like I spoke Portuguese with mine. I heard it every time I went over his house. His mom (now my mother in law), would speak a little bit to me even though I had no idea what she was saying. But I tried. I wanted to learn. I loved the way the language sounded, the music. I eventually picked up words from all the years John and I were together. Finally one year before we got married I decided to take Greek lessons. Once a week for one year I went to a classroom inside the church I would eventually get married in and learned to read, write a little bit, and new vocabulary words to help with speaking. I loved it!

Today, I live in Greece and I love it here. Everyone is so friendly! They make me feel comfortable to speak their language even though I get worried in being misunderstood - Gosh, mindset is everything!

However I don’t hold myself from speaking, I do my best. Everyone get excited and truly shocked that I can understand and speak it even if it’s just a little bit.

It’s the best feeling to be able to communicate with others in their own language. If you’re able to learn a foreign language, do it. It’s never too late to learn something new.

John and I are “passing down our languages” to our children. The more languages the better - did you know that a child can learn up to seven (7) languages at the same time? It only brings positivity to their lives; more confidence, understanding of one’s culture and way of life, empathy, more friends, more vocabulary words, curiosity, and so much more. I cannot wait to be a fluent Greek speaker like I am with Portuguese, Spanish, and English. In the meantime I’ll practice with my handsome husband, family, my friends and my children 🥰

If you had to learn a foreign language, what language would that be?