An advantage of learning a language – as opposed to acquiring a language

My parents spoke Polish and Ukrainian. However, they did not teach these languages to me when I grew up. In the 1960s it was not in vogue to be anything than a WASP. I and my parents have often regretted the fact that I did not simply acquire these languages when I was a child, I would have been a native speaker in 3 languages and could have bridged this to other languages.

Years latter I learned Polish and my next language will be Ukrainian of course. Even though I do not speak Polish perfectly without an accent like a native, I speak Polish. Further I moved to Poland.

Now here is the advantage of learning a language instead of having it bestowed upon you as a child (my children I hope will be bilingual). When I moved to Poland I was special. I was a foreigner who spoke Polish. If I was a native people would treat me just like they treat any other guy on the street.
But now a complete American (I am very American), experienced what I would call the hollywood effect. Think of how women in the States or UK often go for some exotic guy with an accent. Accents can be sexy. And apparently in Polish I have one.

I was a star. I foreigner who did not simply assume the whole world spoke English. Of course it was hard to learn the language, but it was good for my brain.

What if you are already bilingual? No problem, learn a third or forth language.

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