Say 话 with Abigail
Hello, I’m Abigail / 大家好，我叫 Abigail.
I’m a full-time professional by day, a part-time student by night, and in between all that… I’m trying to become a polyglot.
This is the story of how I got to where I am now.
Then
For most of my life, I believed that speaking multiple languages was just something “other people” did — like diplomats, kids raised abroad, people who went to language schools as children, or just people with magical brains. Even though both of my parents speak three languages fluently each (yes, each), I never really saw anyone around me actively learning a new one from scratch, outside of mandatory language classes at school. I even took GCSE French at school but only did it as it was the right thing to do.
I did think about taking it further to A-Level but was advised not to, as I would be learning more about French culture than the actual language. To 15-year-old me, this meant I would be learning stuff I didn’t really have a passion for over the next two years. Coupled with the fact that I didn’t have personal reasons or a desire to discover languages at the time, I took the advice and didn’t pursue French past what was needed for GCSE. At this point, I think I could have been at A2/B1 level with French.
I didn’t look much into languages over the next couple of years, outside of picking up Duolingo and getting a streak going for a couple of months, before tiring of the alerts and deleting the app again. This cycle continued for a while.
Then 2020 came around, and much like the rest of the world, I was in a country where lockdowns were enforced. This freed up a lot of time for me as a working student; my commute and working time quickly became my free time. Some of this was dedicated to studying for my degree, but a lot of it was spent online on sites like YouTube and TikTok.
Whilst scrolling on YouTube one day, I came across a video of a person boasting about being able to speak 10 languages. I, like much of the comment section, was both in awe and disbelief. I couldn’t believe it, and spent the rest of the day learning more about this strange, far-fetched world of polyglots. People casually picking up new languages for fun, just because they loved words, cultures, and connecting with others.
At first, I thought: these people must be extremely gifted, or have all the resources and time I didn’t. Despite my reservations, I kept watching: people travelling around the world, talking to locals with ease, and those cheesy videos where someone goes to a shop or restaurant and shocks staff by speaking their native language. After watching a few of those, something clicked. I realised; maybe I could do it too…?
Skip to 2022, I had been casually learning a few sentences and words in a bunch of different languages. I started slowly, asking my parents how they had learned so many. They’re fluent in three languages each but have been exposed to many more. I asked them how their minds worked. What language do you think in? What language do you dream in? Which feels most natural to you now?
After compiling all the data from my parents, I took all of this and… again, did nothing. I didn’t go that much further with my language learning. I even dropped it again towards the end of 2022.
Then in 2023, I missed out on a major opportunity. It stung and I was really upset about it for a while. But instead of letting it break me, I was going to turn that heartbreak into motivation. I decided then that I was going to feel the feels, but put the energy into something positive. I can’t wallow forever.
I remembered my polyglot dreams and thought, why not?
I literally Googled “best languages to learn” and at the top of the list? Mandarin Chinese. So I went for it. I spent the next 2 weeks looking into the language and how adults can learn it.
Now
Fast forward to today, I’m 25 with a goal: to speak 5 languages by 30. I’m currently working on Language 1, Mandarin, where I am going through HSK 3. For Language 2, I’m trying to reclaim my lost French and think that I am at A1/A2. I’ve also decided on Language 3, which will be Portuguese. I’m still in the research phase, so not much to report just yet.
This blog is my journal, my chaos, my celebration, and my accountability partner.
Welcome to the journey.
Let’s say 话 together. 💬
Say Huà with Abigail 