Imagination, Hard Work and Learning Another Language

In this piece in The Atlantic, Ta-Nehisi Coates poignantly explains the rewards and challenges of learning another language, in this case French in the Alps. I recommend reading the full piece, but two key, pithy ideas:

1. If you get the chance to study abroad to practice or learn another language, do it in a place where it feels like your native language is the 4th language spoken there. (Don't make it easy to rely on your first languages.)
2. There are lots of advertisements for language learning opportunities, many of which mimic the persuasive techniques of weight loss ads, suggesting there's a secret way you can do it quickly, effectively and painlessly. (To effectively learn a language, lose weight, or do anything challenging, really, you have to invest considerable time and be willing to make a lot of mistakes. It's as much about the process as it is the end result. Since language is always evolving, the end result is always a moving target anyway. This isn't a bad thing. The more you work, the more you invest of yourself, the more you succeed.)