Struggles Every Person Who Speaks Multiple Languages Understands | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

Struggles Every Person Who Speaks Multiple Languages Understands

Speaking several languages only has perks, right?

47
Struggles Every Person Who Speaks Multiple Languages Understands
roundtheworldwego

No matter which or how many languages you speak, you probably did all of these at least once...

1. When you answer a question in the wrong language.

Most of the time, you aren't even aware of it, and you only figure it out because the person talking to you just stares at you. Then you repeat what you just said in the right language, but with a tiny bit of aggressiveness, because what you said was crystal clear.

2. When people discover you speak another language, and they immediately want you to tell them something or translate.

And then they say they didn't understand a word you just said.... Then why did you ask me?! (My tip, if that bothers you, is to just say every curse word you know. It’s strangely liberating.)

3. When people see you reading a book in a foreign language and ask you if you understand it and then translate what you’re reading.

Just In case you were simply staring at words you didn’t understand just to show off. It’s not that annoying, but I don’t like when people bother me when I’m reading.

4. When people ask you to translate their favorite song lyrics.

(This one is more for the people from non-English speaking countries.) People sometimes tell you they love a song, and they want to know what it means. The song is about sex... or drugs... or both when the music video is a big party with half naked girls... What did they expect? Philosophical lyrics about the meaning of life? Or alternatively, it’s corny lyrics about the love of your life.

5. When you mix up the languages.

How many times have I said “and” or “or” in Spanish class? Or in everyday life? (Too many.)

6. When you forget a word in the language you’re speaking.

So you just replace it with the translation and say it with an accent, hoping it won’t be noticeable… (It is.)

7. Having a fantastic pun/joke… in the other language.

And then laughing by yourself because you’re hilarious as hell.

But despite all of this, you still love to speak another language because it helped you discover the world and met some truly amazing people.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

28 Daily Thoughts of College Students

"I want to thank Google, Wikipedia, and whoever else invented copy and paste. Thank you."

354
group of people sitting on bench near trees duting daytime

I know every college student has daily thoughts throughout their day. Whether you're walking on campus or attending class, we always have thoughts running a mile a minute through our heads. We may be wondering why we even showed up to class because we'd rather be sleeping, or when the professor announces that we have a test and you have an immediate panic attack.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

The Great Christmas Movie Debate

"A Christmas Story" is the star on top of the tree.

1710
The Great Christmas Movie Debate
Mental Floss

One staple of the Christmas season is sitting around the television watching a Christmas movie with family and friends. But of the seemingly hundreds of movies, which one is the star on the tree? Some share stories of Santa to children ("Santa Claus Is Coming to Town"), others want to spread the Christmas joy to adults ("It's a Wonderful Life"), and a select few are made to get laughs ("Elf"). All good movies, but merely ornaments on the Christmas tree of the best movies. What tops the tree is a movie that bridges the gap between these three movies, and makes it a great watch for anyone who chooses to watch it. Enter the timeless Christmas classic, "A Christmas Story." Created in 1983, this movie holds the tradition of capturing both young and old eyes for 24 straight hours on its Christmas Day marathon. It gets the most coverage out of all holiday movies, but the sheer amount of times it's on television does not make it the greatest. Why is it,
then? A Christmas Story does not try to tell the tale of a Christmas miracle or use Christmas magic to move the story. What it does do though is tell the real story of Christmas. It is relatable and brings out the unmatched excitement of children on Christmas in everyone who watches. Every one becomes a child again when they watch "A Christmas Story."

Keep Reading...Show less
student thinking about finals in library
StableDiffusion

As this semester wraps up, students can’t help but be stressed about finals. After all, our GPAs depends on these grades! What student isn’t worrying about their finals right now? It’s “goodbye social life, hello library” time from now until the end of finals week.

1. Finals are weeks away, I’m sure I’ll be ready for them when they come.

Keep Reading...Show less
Christmas tree
Librarian Lavender

It's the most wonderful time of the year! Christmas is one of my personal favorite holidays because of the Christmas traditions my family upholds generation after generation. After talking to a few of my friends at college, I realized that a lot of them don't really have "Christmas traditions" in their family, and I want to help change that. Here's a list of Christmas traditions that my family does, and anyone can incorporate into their family as well!

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

The 5 Phases Of Finals

May the odds be ever in your favor.

2427
Does anybody know how to study
Gurl.com

It’s here; that time of year when college students turn into preschoolers again. We cry for our mothers, eat everything in sight, and whine when we don’t get our way. It’s finals, the dreaded time of the semester when we all realize we should have been paying attention in class instead of literally doing anything else but that. Everyone has to take them, and yes, unfortunately, they are inevitable. But just because they are here and inevitable does not mean they’re peaches and cream and full of rainbows. Surviving them is a must, and the following five phases are a reality for all majors from business to art, nursing to history.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments