The Random Interactions of a Second Language

        Earlier in the day, I was thinking back to exactly why I first decided I wanted to commit to becoming bilingual. Of course, when I first started taking French classes, it was merely to get rid of a required foreign language credit in middle school. I only had two options (French or Spanish), and since most people decided to take Spanish, I decided to be contrary and go with French. However, that can barely be considered the day I decided I wanted to actually "learn" the language.

        I remember, quite vividly in fact, the day my entire outlook on learning a second language flipped. It was just another random day in French class my junior year of high school, and my French teacher at the time (who was a huge influence on me, as it so happened) was going on a tirade in French. Upon finishing her lecture, she asked me a quick question, which I quite promptly responded too, albeit in less-than-perfect French. However, I still managed to respond.

        Looking back on the interaction later in the day, I was astounded how proud I was that I managed to respond the way I did. I finally, after several years of mediocrity, managed to put together a coherent and respectable response. From that day on, I truly started to "learn" French. That tiny interaction is what fueled my desire to learn the language - to me, it was astounding to be able to present an idea in a completely different tongue and have it be understood.

        Two years, a foreign exchange trip checked off my list, and a placing in a state-wide contest later, I was given yet another reminder as to why I cherish my decision to learn French. My friend from France who I'd met during my exchange trip was visiting me, and we had decided to go to Austin for a couple days. We were jabbering away in French at Barton Springs (a local amusement in Austin), and were randomly approached by a guy who we'd never met before. As it so happens, he was visiting from Belgium (a French-speaking country), and had overheard our speaking French! He introduced himself, and we continued on to spend a large chunk of our remaining time in Barton Springs together. Again, the incredible interactions that come from learning another language were thrown in my face. Without that drive to learn a language, I never would have had that bizarre, yet extraordinarily gratifying, feeling that comes from seeing your hard work pay off.

        Thus, when others ask me, "Why did you even bother to learn French? It's not a truly useful language to learn," I typically smile to myself and think back to why I started. When it comes down to it, it's the satisfaction that comes from the smallest of interactions - a difficult concept to explain, yet when experienced, it's never forgotten.