Apartment hunting...

Learning a new language is like decorating a new apartment. One has to decide on what kind of home they are looking for – will two bedrooms work for you? A big kitchen? How many bathrooms? Will the language be used in more than one country/place? Is the vocabulary unlimited? How many tenses are used?

And once the apartment is found – do you have the main pieces of furniture that you need? Where do you go to purchase or obtain that furniture? And, normally, no matter how much you try to get JUST what you need – you always want to get things that are not necessary, little extras… a poster, some art, or a special comforter for the new bed. Do you have a dictionary? Learning verbs and how to make the different versions (tenses) is considered a very important starting point with a new language. However, one is usually lured into learning phrases that don’t literally translate which mean are good to know, maybe, however, not helpful in the long run. The goal being to speak fluently (or at least communicate with a functioning knowledge of the language).

I have a little knowledge of both apartment hunting and learning languages. Those of you who know me, know that I have moved quite often (four times just while in Turkey) and have dabbled in eight languages, thus far! So, it is with my experience that I make these statements...

Thinking that now you have the main pieces of furniture – vocabulary, verbs, a few useful phrases … one needs to make the apartment - home. Some place that one wants to dwell with the feelings of safety and understanding. Some place where it’s nice to visit with old and new friends. Having a working knowledge of a new language is great but to be able to not have to worry about saying the sentence wrong or mispronouncing something can lead to fear. Having a fear to speak ones’ new language can lead further to frustration and an apartment that is only partially furnished and not shared or enjoyed. One should not have such an apartment.

In order to avoid this situation – one should shop carefully and seek out only the most knowledgeable and patient of salesmen. A salesman that is dedicated to the basics and is willing to negotiate. Once the basics are accomplished, practice, practice, practice … Only through practice can one truly have the best arrangement in the apartment as well as the best knowledge of the language. In order to have the best arrangement – one may need to invest in more than one salesman, perhaps even a professional interior decorator. It will be worth the investment in the long run.

In time, usually about a year, one will find that they are comfortable in their new apartment and it’s not a problem to find the bathroom in the dark. Lights are needed sometimes when one is tired or a little addled (for whatever reason) but eventually, knowing one’s way home and way around will become second nature. Using one’s newly acquired language will become natural and going between one’s native tongue and the new language will be an everyday event no longer a reason for fear or anxiety, maybe even conscience thought …

Choose your apartment well. Make sure you want to stay there for at least a year, if not more. Know your stores and the availability of professional interior decorators as well as local salesmen. Start out with only the basics and move up to painting, art, etc. Just as your apartment will reflect your personality over time, your newly acquired language skills will also develop and become part of your personality. In time, you will consider yourself a native and wonder why decorating was difficult at first, for now, it seems so easy. Your apartment and your speech are beautiful!