Between Words and Worlds: My Journey Through Languages

My Journey Through Languages: How Learning Words Shaped My World

Languages have always been part of who I am. I grew up in a bilingual home where two worlds met at the dinner table my mom spoke to me in Spanish, my dad in Portuguese. For me, both languages merged into one colorful melody. I didn’t realize they were different, they simply were the way I understood the world.

When I started school, though, that harmony turned into a small daily challenge. My teachers spoke Portuguese, but my thoughts still came out in Spanish. I could understand everything perfectly, yet I often found myself mixing words, bridging two worlds that my young mind hadn’t learned to separate.

That early experience sparked something in me a fascination with languages, communication, and the way words connect people. At eight years old, I started learning English. What began as simple phrases and grammar lessons slowly grew into a second skin. Today, English is part of my everyday life it’s the language I use to study, write, and even talk to many of the people I care about most.

Now, my newest adventure is German. I’ve been learning it in preparation for an internship I’ll be doing in about a year and a half. A dream opportunity that’s pushing me out of my comfort zone once again. But unlike my younger self, this time I have the advantage of living in a world full of incredible tools that make learning faster, smarter, and more enjoyable.

Take Anki, for example a flashcard app that’s completely changed the way I memorize and retain new words. For the past few weeks, I’ve been challenging myself with 100 cards a day. It sounds intense, but the results are amazing. Watching my vocabulary grow card by card is almost addictive.

Another key part of my process is immersion. I’ve made my surroundings as German as possible: my phone, playlists, news, and even my social media feed. At first, it was overwhelming — like diving into deep water without knowing how to swim. But over time, the rhythm of the language started to click. The more I stopped translating word by word and started thinking in German, the more natural it began to feel.

I’m also lucky to have a mentor guiding me through the journey. While online courses are great, having someone experienced to point out your blind spots and help you focus your efforts makes all the difference. It’s like having a compass when you’re exploring new territory.

Beyond structured study, I’ve found that consistency and creativity matter most. I write small paragraphs in German every day, watch videos, read short articles, and even talk to myself in the language (yes, it works!). The goal is simple: to make German feel like a part of my life, not just another subject to study.

Of course, there are days when grammar feels impossible when one article, preposition, or case ruins your confidence. But those days are just part of the process. Because when you finally read a sentence and understand it without translating, that small victory feels huge. It’s the moment you realize: “I’m actually getting it.”

Language learning is not just about communication. It’s about patience, discipline, and rewiring your brain to see the world differently. And there’s real science behind it research shows that being bilingual or multilingual can delay cognitive decline and even postpone dementia symptoms by three to five years.

So yes, learning a new language takes time. But it’s one of the most powerful investments you can make not only in your future, but in the strength and longevity of your mind.

Thanks for joining me on this journey. I hope it inspires you to start your own one word, one phrase, one language at a time.