Hanna
My foreign language learning journey began in school in Ukraine, though not very successfully. Throughout my school years, I had English classes where we drilled grammar and memorized words, but without focusing on speaking or real conversation. When I took my first trip to the US shortly after school, in 2007, participating in the Work and Travel USA program, I realized that I didn’t understand English at all.
Interested in a broader, interdisciplinary education and seeking new adventures, I moved to Berlin in 2011. At first, I worked as an Au-pair, taking care of children while attending German classes. I immersed myself fully in language learning: intensive German classes at the Volkshochschule (Folk high school for adult education) almost every day, a tandem partner, and speaking only German within the family. With a strong desire to pass the C1 German exam and pursue undergraduate studies at the Free University of Berlin in History of Art, I achieved both. During my studies in Berlin, I became fascinated with Mexican muralism, Latin American culture, and the Spanish language. I began attending Spanish classes, and thanks to the PROMOS Exchange Program scholarship, I had the chance to travel to Mexico City in 2015. There, I spent half a year exploring Mexican academia and culture, while continuing to improve my Spanish.
I stayed in Mexico for the next six beautiful years, completing the MA in International History (between 2016 and 2018) and working on different project. Just as I had in Germany, I immersed myself in a Spanish-speaking environment—studying, working, and living in Spanish. However, this time, I grew tired of the structured approach to language learning and decided to experiment: I would acquire Spanish purely from daily life, like a 'child', fully immersed in the Spanish-speaking environment without formal classes. I read a lot, wrote in Spanish, and worked, enhancing my understanding through homework and classes reading's materials. I was consciously active and strategic in my learning: asking questions, repeating immediately, and paying close attention to words and structures.
English had always been present in my life, reappearing now and then—during travels or in academic settings. Finally, when I arrived in the US three years ago, my immersion into English-speaking culture had a much stronger foundation than in German or Spanish. Looking back, each new language I learned was more than just a tool for communication—it was a gateway to new cultures, experiences, and perspectives. My journey has been shaped by the people I met, the places I lived, and the countless lessons along the way.