I have been learning Japanese for 459 days and counting. This is my story on learning a new language.

I never really considered learning a new language. I always thought, “Why bother with the hassle when I already know one language. Why would I need to learn an entirely new one?”

Well, old me was wrong. It turns out that learning a new language is quite beneficial. It’s like playing an instrument, at first you have no idea what to do. But, over time your brain develops connections and strengthens that instrumental knowledge. Learning a new language is like working out your muscles, according to the University of the Potomac. The more you work out your muscles, the stronger they get over time. This is how you can learn so many new things and make them a part of your daily life.

One day I realized that I was becoming really interested in the Japanese culture. I’d see videos of the daily life in Japan and the trips people take there on the internet. Over time I dreamed of one day taking a trip to Japan. I thought to myself, “If I want to go to Japan one day, I best start learning their language. But, how?”

That’s until I came across an app called Duolingo. It was a free alternative to help people start learning a new language. With that my journey began. Duolingo has helped me learn simple words and conversation starters. When I began, I could only say about 4 words, but now I can probably hold a conversation for about 2-3 minutes. I have learned so much from describing family, shopping for clothes, ordering food, and even getting around a station. I have also learned kanji and katakana. I feel more confident with speaking Japanese then before. However, this is only the start of my journey, and I have no intention of ending it anytime soon.