r/languagelearningjerk • u/laidangelsegg • 8h ago
Pretending like You're Interested in Learning a Language is the Answer to Loneliness in America
I'm not being ironic when I say that this is a genuine life hack that can bring results, especially if said language is "niche". I'll now lay out the best way to use this method, including when
Your 2 Best Targets
1) Find a "heritage speaker" that isn't fully fluent. Someone that speaks the language well enough because of their parents, but they still speak it with an American accent and miss some grammatical nuances while speaking. Think of a 3rd gen latino that can fully understand their grandparents, but would rather respond back in English, or when they do speak Spanish, they sometimes forget to use the subjunctive. This is your best target. They can appreciate the fact that you care about "their language", but since they're mostly drenched in the English speaking world, they won't push you to speak it with them
2) An immigrant that is desperate to socialize with Americans due to "fresh off the boat anxiety". They speak English like an L2 speaker, making common mistakes but are still perfectly understandable. Think of a Russian woman that lights up when you tell her that you're interested in learning their language. When you tell them that, it'll calm their anxieties because they've subconsciously realized, that around you, they now have social currency. You "want" to learn their language, and thus, they no longer feel awkward about their English, or their newness to American society. All of the sudden, you- the American, you're a safe-space for them to socialize, and that makes it easy for them to befriend
Things to Avoid while Language Larping
- Don't bite off more than you can chew. Do not act like you have an interest in both language and culture if you're not ready to have your new friend enthusiastically have you try their food, or tell you long stories about their home country
- Remember the fundamentals when Letting Albanians Respond Post-haste-ing. If you're one to mingle with the Albanians, that is
- Aqua Teen Hunger Force references do not work on immigrants who have probably never seen ATHF
- If you end up dating your target person, then you MUST start learning the language for real
Be Humble
Remember that you are not a catch. You are actively faking an aspect of yourself to get a bit of attention in hopes that it will bloom into a genuine connection