Learning French and Italian: A Personal Journey of Growth and Connection

When I first moved to Montreal, I felt like I was living my new reality at only 50% because I didn’t know French. My secondary and preparatory schools in Mexico taught me English, and my university studies and job roles all required a high level of English. All of my professional life in Mexico revolved around English, and I didn’t think much about French until I arrived in Montreal. Suddenly, I found myself in a city where I felt disconnected from everything because I couldn’t speak the local language. Sure, I could get by with a few basic phrases, but there was a constant barrier that held me back from truly connecting with my new home.

I started French lessons to get by, but it wasn’t until I began working at the bakery that I felt the full force of needing to master the language. Being immersed in an environment where every interaction was in French was a shock to the system. Learning pronunciation became a whole new challenge, especially because at 30, my brain wasn’t as flexible as it once was. But there was also something incredibly empowering about pushing through that discomfort. As I started getting more comfortable with French, I began to feel a deeper connection to Montreal, to the people, and to my day-to-day life here.

But I didn’t stop at French. In 2024, I had a trip to Rome planned for December. I’d always been fascinated by Italian culture, and after looking forward to the trip, I decided that learning Italian would be a great complement to my French skills. Right after booking my trip, I went straight to Italian for Dummies and started my learning journey. I added Italian to my Duolingo and began practicing as much as I could. What amazed me was how easy it felt. Since Italian is so close to Spanish, it was like I was already halfway there. My trip to Rome was a huge motivator—I even tried speaking a little Italian while I was there, and it felt so good to understand and be understood in another language. It gave me the confidence to continue practicing once I returned, and I’ve kept at it ever since.

The difference between learning French and Italian has been striking. French was a necessity for me—something I had to learn because it was tied to my new life in Montreal. It felt like a chore sometimes, especially in the beginning. But Italian has been a choice, something I’ve learned for fun and personal growth. There’s been a huge sense of accomplishment with both languages, but French was more about getting by, whereas Italian is about enjoying the journey. Learning Italian has felt more like a hobby, a fun challenge rather than a requirement.

One of the keys to my success in both languages has been immersion. I’m a firm believer that you need to surround yourself with the language in every way possible, which is why I’m an avid listener of podcasts like Easy French and Easy Italian. I also watch movies and TV shows in the language I’m working on. Duolingo has been incredibly helpful as well—it’s a great tool, almost like a game, and it makes learning feel fun. I try to practice Italian daily, even if it’s just for 10 minutes, and I make sure to listen to a podcast or two each week. I also set a goal for myself to read a couple of articles in Italian every week and, once a month, I’ll watch something on Netflix in Italian to get more exposure. These little daily practices have kept me moving forward.

Learning a new language as an adult is not without its struggles. You face challenges that you didn’t expect—like dealing with self-doubt, the frustration of not understanding things right away, and the struggle of not being able to speak as fluently as you want to. But what I’ve learned is that persistence and consistency are key. Every time I feel frustrated, I remind myself that I’ve already come so far. Every small victory—whether it’s successfully ordering food in French or understanding a phrase in Italian—feels like an accomplishment. And that sense of achievement only builds my confidence.

Learning two languages in my 30s and 40s has also taught me valuable lessons about perseverance and growth. It’s easy to get discouraged, especially when the progress seems slow. But sticking with it, practicing consistently, and being patient with yourself are all crucial parts of the process. I’ve also learned that it’s okay to make mistakes. Every error is an opportunity to learn, and embracing those mistakes has helped me grow both in my language skills and in my personal development.

One of the biggest takeaways from this whole journey is that it’s never too late to start something new. Whether you’re 30, 40, or beyond, you can always challenge yourself to learn a new skill. Language learning has shown me that the best time to start is right now. Age is just a number, and it doesn’t have to limit what you can achieve. I never imagined that I’d be fluent in two languages by my 40s, but here I am. The journey has been hard work, but it’s also been incredibly rewarding.

As for what’s next, I’m not done yet. While I’m continuing to improve my Italian, I’m also considering other languages. My daughter has recently been studying German, and I might follow her lead. Who knows what the future holds? The beauty of language learning is that it’s a never-ending journey, and every step you take opens up new possibilities.