Blog #2

I have finally hit the one-year milestone in my Hungarian language journey! I want to reminisce on the process and give you a glimpse into the challenges, achievements, and the rollercoaster of emotions that come with venturing into uncharted linguistic territories as someone who has always wanted to learn a new language. 

 

Fate would have it that I met my partner during my Master's degree in the UK, and this reignited my language interests to the next level. Not only did I fall in love with someone who is bilingual (the linguistic enthusiast in me jumping for joy at this!), but with a Hungarian! Why is this so momentous, you may ask? Because, there has been a claim that it is the second (or, to some, the first) hardest language in the world for an English native speaker - what are the chances! Once again, the decision to study linguistics at undergrad was paying off and putting my skills to the test. The thought of having the opportunity to learn more about this language I knew so little about was super intriguing. Little did I know what I had signed myself up for on a language level!

 

Learning Hungarian has been a fun ride, no doubt, but it hasn't been without its fair share of hurdles. I remember the first ever lesson with my tutor, Eszter, who started me off with the basics. Comparing the English twenty-six letter alphabet to the forty-four Hungarian one (yep, forty-four!). Not only are there more characters but the sounds are quite different to say the least. One of the most prominent challenges I've faced alongside the characteristics of the language, is the mental battle of self-doubt taking over my monolingual brain. As a beginner, there have been moments when the language felt like a never ending mountain, where doubt crept in quite often— “Can I really master this? Am I progressing fast enough? Will I ever be able to construct sentences easily and communicate effortlessly?” It's a mental tug-of-war that every language learner can relate to. Frustration, too, has made its appearance on this journey. Hungarian, with its unique grammar and pronunciation, has tested my patience. There were times when a seemingly simple phrase felt like an unsolvable puzzle, and the frustration bubbled to the surface. But, as they say, with great challenge comes great reward, and each moment of frustration has been a stepping stone to a deeper understanding with lightbulb moments. 

 

Imposter syndrome has been a lurking companion throughout this journey, and maybe you’ve heard or experienced this in other aspects of your life. A little voice that tells you that you’ll never get there or you’re not working hard enough. As I navigate the complexities of Hungarian, I've occasionally felt like an imposter, questioning my right to communicate in a language that is not my own. It's a common sentiment among language learners, and acknowledging it and reshaping it into a positive has been a crucial part of my growth. The pressure to speed up my learning has been an external challenge that I've grappled with, especially with a timeline to my Budapest move. In a world that often glorifies rapid achievement, there's a constant urge to accelerate the learning process. But language learning is a gradual, nuanced journey, and embracing the pace that suits my individual growth has been a lesson in itself.

 

Despite these challenges, every moment of doubt, frustration, and imposter syndrome is outweighed by the sheer joy of overcoming obstacles. It's in these challenging moments that I have the most amazing feelings of achievement and learning - and this is what we must remember! Perhaps you too get a little nervous before a lesson or it weighs on your mind if you’re doing enough, but remind yourself of that feeling when you complete that lesson or use a new word in everyday life, or have that grammatical lightbulb moment!

 

As I continue to navigate the twists and turns of learning Hungarian, probably for many years to come, I invite you to join me in celebrating the triumphs and acknowledging the ups and downs. Language learning is not just about the destination; it's about the journey—the stumbles, the breakthroughs, and the continuous evolution of self.

 

Stay tuned for more updates, insights, and the narrative of my language and expat journey. Remember, it's okay to face challenges; what matters is the courage to keep moving forward. And, you’re not alone!

 

If you’re looking for an empathetic patient tutor to help you with your own language learning challenges, feel free to reach out.

 

A magabiztosság a nyelvtanulás kulcsa. Itt vagyok, hogy segítsek 😊

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Alice