This graph (stolen from
Twitter) illustrates my experience studying Spanish as a second language. The first three years of college were fun, with zero fluency and little usefulness. Since I was constantly learning and improving, I had a blast.
At the end of six years as I was finishing a Bachelor's, I felt like I could conquer the world in Spanish. I knew just enough to be a hazard. I had some great opportunities that I wasn't qualified for, and I did them anyway.
Then I started a Master's degree. Right away it really began to sink in how little I knew, and how much is left to learn. I have officially returned full circle to the "I know nothing" phase. Now is the time to either give up, or resolve to be a student of the language for the rest of my life. I have chosen the latter.
I share this because I was totally unprepared for the stage I'm in now. I didn't think the learning curve would feel like going downhill. I don't feel like an expert. I thought I would have an invincible level of confidence by now. I hoped I would be more fluent too. I miss the excitement of the first few years. But would I go back now? No way. My optimism was not totally misplaced. I can do things now that I couldn't back then, but I also have a better awareness of my own skills as they relate to my limitations. It's been a huge reminder that perfection was not the goal in the first place.
No matter what stage you are in today - enjoy it! Maximize your strengths. Don't stop working because you don't feel instant gratification. Find ways to measure and recognize your progress. Be realistic about your weaknesses. Study on, because if you haven't figured it out by now, languages are as infinite as the creativity of the human mind. You will never finish, so let that be your inspiration to keep going.
