Academic Tides | Language as Liberation
Hello Everyone,
I hope all is well! On today’s episode we’re discussing Language as Liberation: My Path Toward Polyglotism.
As someone who’s always viewed education as more than just a career tool, learning languages became my first real act of academic self-liberation. I didn’t choose to study French, Spanish, Mandarin, and Yorùbá simply to pass a requirement or check a box. I chose them because I want to walk into rooms where my ancestors never could, hold conversations in places that once felt distant, and be seen and understood in more ways than English ever allowed me.
I’m currently minoring in both French and Spanish as part of my university studies, and I’ve been supplementing this journey with free Mandarin courses from another institution. But let’s not pretend this has been glamorous. The road to polyglotism is paved with late-night Anki sessions, half-mumbled Duolingo phrases, and mental fatigue that hits after decoding subjunctive verb moods for the fifth time that day. Still—I wouldn’t trade this journey for anything.
Why These Languages First?
French: I once was on the long and winding path of becoming of Prima Ballerina and French felt like an ode to my love for literature, diplomacy, and the arts. There’s something romantic and philosophical about it, but also political. The Francophone world is vast—touching parts of Africa, the Caribbean, and Europe—and being able to speak French connects me to those global Black narratives in a way that English often erases.
Spanish: Spanish, especially in the context of the United States and Latin America, is survival. It’s culture, rhythm, activism, and everyday community. Living in Miami for university and being a native South Floridian means Spanish is all around me—from street signs to small talk with neighbors. It’s not just helpful. It’s necessary.
Mandarin: Mandarin was the wild card. I chose it not just for its global relevance, but because it challenged every linguistic muscle I thought I had. Its tones, its characters, its structure—they require a different kind of patience and precision. But in return, I gain access to one of the world’s oldest, richest cultures and a worldview that stretches my mind beyond what I’m used to.
Yorùbá: Yorùbá is not just a language—it’s a reclamation. It’s the rhythm of my ancestors who walked and swam so I could run freely. As the language of my spiritual practice and ancestral memory, it connects me to a lineage that predates colonial interruption. Speaking Yorùbá is an act of restoration, of reverence, and of remembering—one that grounds my identity even as I navigate a global world.
What’s Harder Than the Language? The Discipline.
People talk about how hard it is to learn a new language—and they’re right. But what doesn’t get enough attention is how much discipline it takes to keep showing up. There are weeks where I can barely get through a single paragraph. Times where I feel like I’m moving backwards. And yet, what grounds me is this: I’m not learning these languages to perform fluency. I’m learning them to expand who I am.
Here’s the truth: as a non-native speaker, I may never reach perfect fluency—and that’s okay. Most of us won’t. But we can get super close. And when you’re a foreigner, perfection isn’t what matters most. What matters is that you care enough to try. That you can communicate. That you’re willing to meet someone in their own language, even if you stumble through the words. That effort—that vulnerability—builds bridges faster than flawless grammar ever could.
Academic burnout is real. I’ve felt it—those moments where learning starts to feel mechanical, joyless, transactional. But language learning brought me back to why I fell in love with education in the first place. It reminded me what it means to be a beginner. To mess up. To pronounce something completely wrong, feel the sting of disappointment, and then laugh, reflect, and try again.
There’s something deeply human about that cycle—about failing forward. It invites playfulness back into the learning process. When I trade perfectionism for curiosity, I remember that growth isn’t always linear. Sometimes, it’s just about showing up again tomorrow, a little more open than you were the day before. Language learning reminds me that education isn’t supposed to make me feel like a robot. It’s supposed to make me feel more alive.
A Polyglot in Progress
No, I’m not fluent in all three yet. But I’m not here to sell mastery. I’m here to show the in-between. The effort. The daily decision to engage. I believe every verb conjugated, every sentence fumbled, every awkward classroom moment—it all counts. It’s all part of the process of becoming a version of myself that can connect more, empathize more, and understand more.
My Language Goals
French: Read a full adult novel in French to deepen my cultural and literary connection.
Spanish: Complete an entire adult novel in Spanish—ideally fiction—to sharpen comprehension and maintain a conversational rhythm.
Mandarin: Master Pinyin and hold a real conversation with my penpal and newfound friend. The goal is to comfortably exchange ideas beyond classroom vocabulary.
Yorùbá: Master the tones and pronunciation of the alphabet, introduce yourself, and understand basic spiritual phrases.
To anyone else navigating the wild ride of language study while juggling life: you’re not alone. We’re building bridges—syllable by syllable.
🎥 Watch This Series on YouTube
My Academia Tides series is also a visual project. On YouTube, you’ll be able to follow me through language vlogs, study routines, cultural immersion clips, and honest reflections on what it really means to learn (and struggle with) multiple languages and subjects at once.
🎓 Let’s Keep the Conversation Going
Got tips, apps, or playlists that help you stay immersed in your target language? Share them in the comments!
