Learning a second language feels a bit like discovering a cheat code for life—or maybe more accurately, a cheat code for your brain. It’s as if, by cracking open the door to one new language, you’ve unwittingly opened a portal to the entire polyglot universe. Once your brain figures out how to juggle two linguistic systems, it’s suddenly game-on for adding a third, a fourth, or even a tenth. But what’s even more fascinating is the mental health boost you get along the way. As someone who’s diving headfirst into Japanese, for both practical and delightfully quirky reasons, I can tell you this journey is equal parts challenging, amusing, and rewarding.
Let’s start with the science-y bit, shall we? Studies have shown that learning a second language doesn’t just activate new neural pathways it strengthens them. Think of it as building tiny bridges in your brain, sturdy enough to carry the weight of memory, cognitive functions, decision-making. Here’s the kicker: bilingualism has been linked to delaying the onset of dementia. Every time I struggle through the difference between hiragana and katakana, it’s like I’m adding an extra layer of cognitive armor. If my brain were a superhero, its cape would have kanji on it, along with a warning from Duolingo’s guilt-inducing owl. I am only just starting this journey but I can order some things in Japanese now.
Now, you may be wondering, “Why Japanese? Why not pick something easier, like Spanish?” Well, I have my reasons gloriously practical ones, actually. The T&T store near my home is a wonderland of culinary treasures, brimming with packages that might hold miso paste, or they might contain something completely unexpected (I’m looking at you, salted plum) sometimes the translation to English isn’t so great on the labels at all. Being able to decipher those labels will save me from playing grocery roulette every time I shop. And let’s not forget the staff, who are fantastic but often speak little to no English. Learning Japanese isn’t just about convenience; it’s about connection asking for help in a language they’re comfortable with makes the shopping experience a lot smoother. Plus, I’ll finally stop confusing soy sauce with whatever mystery item I accidentally brought home last week.
Then there’s the entertainment factor, which, let’s be honest, is pretty irresistible. Imagine not having to wait for dubs or subtitles for anime or movies. It’s like being handed a VIP pass to a whole new world of storytelling. Don’t even get me started on YouTube channels dedicated to Japanese cuisine. Some of the tutorials I’ve come across are entirely in Japanese, and one day mark my words, I’ll confidently follow a sashimi-making video without turning dinner into a science experiment then after I know how to make it that is when the science comes out. There’s something wonderfully empowering about bridging the gap between language and culture. It feels less like a chore and more like unlocking treasures you didn’t even know existed.
Let’s not pretend learning Japanese has been without its moments of hilarity. Take Duolingo, for example. I adore how it doesn’t just teach you to speak but also dives into spelling, grammar, and writing. My kana might still resemble the frantic scribbles of a sleep-deprived chicken at best, but progress is progress, right? Did you know Duolingo also teaches math and sheet music? Who knew my quest for multilingualism would accidentally lead to dabbling in other skills? If this keeps up, I might end up solving equations while composing music in Japanese not exactly what I signed up for, but a fun bonus nonetheless.
Now, back to the snowball effect of language learning. The first non-native language you tackle is, undoubtedly, the hardest. It’s like climbing a mountain for the first time, every step feels steep, slow, and exhausting. Yet once you reach the summit, the view is breathtaking, and the next mountain doesn’t seem so daunting. Your brain, having figured out how to juggle one more language, becomes faster and more efficient at picking up others. There’s no upper limit to how many languages you can learn. It’s a beautiful, virtuous cycle that makes me excited to tackle Plains Cree/Y-dialect Cree next. Learning Cree is difficult as it to is a descriptive language and no tutorials on it so I will be able to learn what should have been my first language through text books and work sheets. Knowing Japanese will make the Cree learning process smoother, and I can already imagine the fascinating cultural intersections I’ll uncover along the way.
Beyond the intellectual perks, learning multiple languages opens literal and metaphorical doors. Take translation, for instance: it’s a job you can do from anywhere, which is particularly appealing for someone like me who uses a wheelchair. The ability to work remotely, without worrying about mobility issues, is a game-changer. Yet why stop at translation? With my background in medical knowledge, I could combine it with patient advocacy. Picture me in a hospital room, translating a doctor’s instructions while throwing in a side-eye at their bedside manner. Irritating? Probably. Hilarious? Absolutely.
Then there is my hidden delight of giving doctors a dose of reality and humility. I hate the god complex, it creates blinders and that leads to a lack of looking at other causes. Such as liver failure. This is a good example as I recently had to deal with this. Sadly I did not win in the end it was to far along to be able to save my dear friend who has been there since I was a young adult.
So with this friend what happened is this, he got real sick while on vacation which is when they discovered the liver numbers were not so great. He gets back home and ends up admitted again. This eventually leads to him going to a liver specialist. However this specialist dealt with transplants and this lead to huge issues. My friend said no to a transplant as the liver can bounce back from a lot of things. This would have been the case had a simple blood test been run, one that should be done at a yearly physical. So when I got involved through his wife asking me a simple question as she needed clarification and me needing to see the records to answer.
To say I hit the roof would be a massive understatement. You see liver failure due to alcohol is a diagnosis of exclusion. Which means you need to exclude other causes, in this case the blood sugar levels, even a random test would have revealed how high his baseline was. This causes organ damage when not addressed, yet this specialist wrote my friend off and stopped doing her due diligence or even the basic stuff to help with this failure of a organ that is almost magical in what it can do. She did not like me the first time she seen me because of one simple question “Have you checked the A1C (average blood sugar over three months) I have a cousin who is type one and I know the liver can be one of the first organs hit with high sugar levels, is this a possible cause?” yea that went over like a lead balloon. However, I will tell this story another time in further detail. I loved taking this doc down. Now I am helping the family file a wrongful death law suite. So advocacy with those who probably deal with worse due to a language barrier. Oh bring it on please!
This journey with Japanese is just the beginning. Sure, the path to fluency is filled with missteps some more comedic than others but every effort I make feels like a tiny victory. Whether it’s deciphering grocery labels, enjoying a Studio Ghibli film without subtitles, or someday fluently speaking Cree, I’m inching closer to a richer, more connected life. And if all goes well, I’ll not only sharpen my brainpower but also perfect my sashimi slicing skills because let’s face it, multilingualism and culinary competence make a pretty unbeatable combo.
So here’s to the snowball effect, to the mental health perks, and to a future filled with multilingual misadventures. Every word I learn, every awkwardly written kana, and every Duolingo guilt-trip is a step toward something extraordinary. And who knows? Maybe someday, I’ll even write a love letter to that insufferable owl for its relentless nagging it turns out, guilt is a surprisingly effective motivator.
What language would you love to learn, or have learned?
Side note; I do love when AI gets it right the first time with the images. This is a good one and look I can even recognize some of what is written!!!
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