When you teach a language that you know, it’s one thing.
But learning a new language you don’t know is a whole different ball game.
It’s exciting, but it can also be tricky!
When you share languages, you share your knowledge of a language and its rules and the other person does the same. Sharing languages helps us understand each other better and learn about different cultures.
In simpler words, language sharing isn’t JUST about swapping words. It’s about connecting hearts and minds across different cultures.
Language sharing is an excellent way to be exposed to a new language and understand more about how to use it in real life instead of sounding like a walking, out-of-touch textbook.
You can make new friends, learn a new culture, try different foods, and even help someone struggling to communicate.
But like any worthwhile endeavor, there are plenty of problems and challenges that could happen with language sharing.
From communication barriers to limited access to resources, navigating these obstacles requires resilience, adaptability, and a willingness to learn and grow.
In this post, I’ll cover some of the problems with language sharing and ways to overcome them. Whether you’re learning from a teacher or a native speaker, facing and solving problems helps you become a better language learner.
Communication Barriers
One of the main challenges with language sharing is that differences in languages can lead to misunderstandings.
Even if people speak the same language, they might still have trouble understanding each other.
This can happen because of a variety reasons.
For instance, people might pronounce words differently or they may not know certain words. Sometimes, even subtle differences in meaning, expression, or tone—things that aren’t obvious—can cause confusion.
For example, a word or phrase might mean one thing in one culture but something different in another.
These small differences can add up and make it hard for people to communicate clearly.
Solution: Evaluate your resources and be patient.
You can use translation tools, ask another person who knows the other language for help, or use language learning resources when you have time to help bridge the communication gaps.
Also, it’s important to be patient and kind when we’re trying to learn or talk in a new language.
That way, we can get better at it and understand each other more easily.
Cultural Sensitivity and Differences
Sharing languages often means that we’re also sharing bits of our culture, like how we do things and what we think is important.
But if we don’t know about or pay attention to how other people’s cultures are different, we might accidentally say something that makes them upset or uncomfortable.
For example, let’s say someone uses a word or talks about something that’s not polite in another culture. That could hurt someone’s feelings without meaning to. That’s why it’s important to learn about other cultures when we’re learning a new language.
By understanding and respecting different ways of doing things, we can talk to each other better and make everyone feel included and happy.
Solution: Learn more about the culture.
Make learning about different cultures as important as learning the language itself. By doing this, you are showing respect for how people do things, what they believe in, and what they avoid.
Try to understand why people say certain things or do certain actions in their culture. You don’t have to agree with it, but being open-minded will make you more approachable to people and empathetic to others. To do this, you can talk to people from different cultures to learn more about them and to share your own culture.
Though, be thoughtful and patient in explaining your culture’s point-of-views.
This helps everyone understand and appreciate each other better.
Resource Availability
Imagine you really want to learn a new language, like maybe Xhosa or Chinese. You have a partner, but you feel like there is something lacking in your learning experience. You know it would be super cool to speak another language, but finding the right stuff to help you learn can be tricky.
Like, you might want to get books or have an actual teacher to help you, but maybe there aren’t many books or teachers available where you live. Or maybe the language you want to learn isn’t very popular, so it’s tough to find good resources for it.
That can make it really challenging to start learning, even if you’re super excited about it!
Solution: If you’re part of a group or organization, you can speak up and ask for more money and help to make learning languages easier for everyone.
But if you’re learning on your own, you don’t have a language sharing partner, and are not part of a group, there are still ways to get better at languages.
You can use free websites or apps where you can learn and practice with other people.
If you find value in having to physically meetup with someone, you can check what organizations that are closest to you that can facilitate a meetup.
If you have money that you could spend, you can hire tutors in your community or on online platforms like Fiverr or Italki to help you learn.
Maintenance and Sustainability
Learning a language is like planting a seed in your brain garden.
You must water your brain garden by practicing speaking, listening, reading, and writing in your target language.
If you stop practicing your language skills, those skills can start to fade away. If you try to overexert yourself, you may end up mentally burnt out. If you become inconsistent in practicing, you may either not learn as fast as you want to.
It is worse when you are language sharing because the other person is being neglected as a language learner. You may even loose a friendship if you cannot communicate to them why you have not been practicing with them.
Solution: Make a plan.
To improve your language skills, it’s important to have a plan.
You can set aside time each week, even if it’s just one hour, to practice speaking, listening, and learning. Consistency helps you remember what you’ve learned, so sticking to your schedule is key.
If you have a friend you are language sharing with, make sure you don’t miss your meetings. If something comes up, let them know as soon as possible. And if you have other friends who want to learn the same language, why not start a club?
Language clubs aren’t just for kids—they’re a fun way for everyone to practice together!
Being part of a club can also lead to exciting experiences, like going on trips, attending cultural events, or chatting with other language speakers from other places online.
So, by sticking to your practice schedule, keeping your language-sharing meetings, and maybe even starting a club, you’ll have lots of fun while getting better at your new language!
Lack of Motivation
Language learning can be like going on an exciting adventure, but sometimes it feels like walking through thick, sticky mud.
It’s tough because it takes time and effort and sometimes you might feel like you’re not getting anywhere.
There are going to be times that you may not feel like going to your meetups or you may encounter a word or phrase that makes you feel like your are hitting a wall.
Solution: Remember why you wanted to learn your new language and create a supportive environment for yourself!
We can do this by surrounding ourselves with fellow friends who are also learning the language and supportive language sharing partners who encourage us along the way.
We can also set achievable short-term goals, like learning 5 new words a week, and celebrate each milestone we reach.
Another way to make language sharing and learning to be fun is when you can turn what you’re learning to games, music, or stories.
Limited Exposure to Authentic Language Use
If you don’t live where your target language is spoken daily, you might miss out on using it in real life.
Sure, maybe you have learned more about the language by watching YouTube videos, watching movies on Netflix, or reading books in the target language.
But you don’t get to practice how to correctly pronounce words or know a more casual way to say something unless you talk to another person in that language.
It’s like a kid trying to learn how to swim without ever getting out of the kiddie pool.
Solution: Be social.
Find a language sharing partner who speaks the language you’re learning and can kindly correct your mistakes respectfully during conversations. Additionally, joining conversation groups lets you practice speaking with other learners and native speakers, both in person and online.
Engaging with online language communities, such as forums or social media groups, allows interaction with native speakers and fellow learners, offering resources and opportunities for written communication practice.
If you have money, enrolling in language classes or hiring a tutor can provide structured lessons and personalized feedback on your language skills.
For a more immersive experience, consider participating in language immersion programs locally or abroad, where you can practice in real-life situations.
Resistance to Change
Sometimes, people don’t like the idea of sharing languages because they worry about losing their culture or history. In other words, national or racial pride.
Imagine if you have a special family recipe that’s been passed down for generations. If someone asks you to change it or share it with others, you might feel like you’re losing something important.
This fear comes from the idea that if everyone starts speaking the same language, unique languages and cultures might disappear.
In the past, some groups of people were forced to speak certain languages and not allowed to use their own.
So now, when people talk about sharing languages, it can bring up old feelings of being treated unfairly or not being respected.
Solution: Address the concern, be respectful, and open-minded.
If it is you own family that is worried about you becoming too involved in another culture and language instead of their own, you need to acknowledge their fears.
Acknowledge and reassure them that your interests does not mean you’re giving up your own. You can still cherish your native language and culture while also appreciating and learning from others.
If it is the other people that are worried, one way to address the concern about language sharing is to show interest in how cool and different each aspect of the language and culture is. Instead of being scared that their language will disappear, we can learn from each other and make new friends from different places.
It’s also important to talk openly and respectfully about any worries people have about sharing languages. We can explain how sharing languages can help us learn new things and make our communities stronger.
By working together with local leaders and people in the community, we can build trust and support for sharing languages. This way, everyone feels valued and included.
Limited Access to Technology
Living in places where there’s not much technology or internet can make learning languages harder. You might not be able to use cool language apps or talk to people online to practice.
If you’re practicing language sharing online, this could be devastating. This can make it tough for both you and your language partner to practice together.
Solution: Prepare your tech or go without.
If you don’t have access to technology and the internet, you can still do language sharing with an online partner by visiting the library. Most importantly, check to see if your local library allows access to your desired platform.
If you have a phone or laptop with internet but are going to a place without internet, just download the stuff you need beforehand.
If you cannot download the material, you can screen record the material and store it onto your device.
If you are completely without technology, use old-fashioned learning tools like books or flashcards with you partner.
