The joy of being a beginner
When you set out starting to learn a new language, it can be daunting. When both our new students and staff first arrive at Na’atik, it can be a bit of a shock to the system. We say that Carrillo is the best place for language immersion because hardly anyone speaks English…well, we’re not lying! This coupled with the heat and cultural differences means it can be sensory overload, and then if you’re greeted by someone who’s studied Spanish for years, the self-doubt could set in. How did they get so good?! When you start out it can feel like it’s a never-ending road but, believe it or not, there are benefits to being a beginner.
Your motivation is at an all-time high. Whether you need a second language for work, want to enhance your travel experiences, are trying to impress your latest Tinder date, learn more about your heritage, or wanting to become a more global citizen, it’s no surprise that when you start, your goals and motivations for learning a language are at the forefront of your mind. Having smaller, short-term goals which support your motives keep you focused. It might be that you want to be able to exchange pleasantries with the Mexican couple you pass every day on the way to work, or order tacos in a restaurant, or watch a film in Spanish. These little wins help keep you on track and coming back to that list of irregular verbs with a sense of excitement rather than duty.
You’re “allowed” to make mistakes. One of the biggest things we tell our students is to try, try and keep trying! Making mistakes, whatever level you are, when learning a new language is inevitable, we’ve all been there, accidentally telling someone we were pregnant instead of embarrassed or some equally awkward faux pas. Or, that moment of panic when a blank look comes over your face. But please don’t let it put you off. Particularly as beginners, we give ourselves and others more leeway to make these mistakes, so embrace it! We encourage all beginners to try and have conversations, even if it does feel like sometimes that you’re repeating the same small-talk conversations over and over. Build your confidence and start introducing your new vocabulary; it’s likely that even if your pronunciation and grammar isn’t perfect the receiver will still get the gist, so make a guess, try it out and allow yourself make mistakes.
A beginner’s mind means you’re a problem solver. There are plenty of studies out there about the benefits of learning a second language and how it can increase your cognitive function. But as a beginner you’re particularly tuned into your ability to problem solve. Thinking on your feet when you’re under pressure to communicate something urgent in a new language makes you think more laterally and solve problems in a way which isn’t necessarily “logical”. As you learn a new language, you’ll also be more able to identify patterns, similarities and prompts to help you as you begin to memorize your new vocabulary and grammatical structures.
You get to study what you need. Now we’re not saying that to become a fluent Spanish speaker, or any other language for that matter, that you don’t need to work on your vocabulary and conjugations for hundreds of different verbs. But as a beginner you’re able to tap into your survival Spanish, and what you need right now. If you don’t go skydiving on a regular basis for example, it’s unlikely that you’ll need to know that the translation is el paracaidismo, however if you’re vegetarian it’s going to be useful to know how to ask “Tienes comida vegetariana?” or “do you have vegetarian food?”. A good teacher will mix up your lessons with what you need to know right now and what you need to know for a good grounding in your chosen language.
It’s all about the context.As a beginner, you don’t translate every word, because the likelihood is that you can’t (yet). But this doesn’t mean that you can’t follow conversations. Even if you cannot speak Spanish or your chosen language at an advanced level, it does not mean you cannot understand it at an advanced level. Often more advanced students get caught up translating the literal words, while as a beginner you’re able to fill in the blanks around the words you do understand and look at the body language and tone of voice to gain an understanding of the sentence.
You’re more likely to accept help. No, this doesn’t mean just sitting back and letting someone more advanced do all the work, no matter how tempting that might be at times. It means you’re more likely to ask for someone to please speak more slowly “más lento por favor”, repeat what they just said “puede repetir eso”, or simply explain that you don’t understand “no entiendo”. Allow yourself to be corrected, people are looking to help you not criticize. That in itself shows huge vulnerability and bravery, which is a great attitude to take with you as you progress on your language learning journey.
So, there you have it, being a beginner might be scary sometimes, but a year into your language studies although you might be more proficient you might just miss that initial fire that got you started in the first place. Keep going, and just remember, everyone was a beginner once.If you’re looking to kick start your Spanish or Maya language skills take a look at our intensive immersion programs.
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The best way to experience the Mexican lifestyle is in person, with a Na’atik Immersion experience. Not only do you live with a local Mexican-Maya family, sharing home-cooked meals and free time, but also receive expert instruction in your chosen language at our school. Best of all, every immersion experience helps fund our subsidized and free local education program, helping local students to access opportunities and make their own futures.