When I was a kid, there was one thing that really got me motivated like nothing else: ice cream. So when I think about the reason I first became interested in foreign languages, I would have to say that ice cream was a big part of it!

Let me explain how this played out:

When I was about six or seven years old, my parents would speak in French when they didn’t want me to understand what they were saying. Sometimes they would do this in the car when they were deciding whether or not to take me and my brother out for ice cream. 

“Et si on achetait de la glace pour les enfants?”

In the backseat of the car, I would strain my ears to listen to what they were saying. After a couple of times, I began to realize that glace in French meant ice cream in English! After that, I was even more motivated to listen closely when my parents spoke French around me. 

Because I had some happy memories associated with the French language, it was easier for me to start learning the language in earnest when I was nine years old. I even got to visit Paris with my dad! Today, my parents and I still speak French to each other. We sometimes watch French movies together and read French books together out loud. French is one of our shared interests, so it’s a great way to build quality time. 

I think it’s much more fun to learn a language when you have a study buddy, don’t you? A study buddy can help keep you accountable, and there’s an added element of friendly competition! On the other hand, it’s also important to remember that everybody has different things that motivate them. Some people like being praised. Some people like achieving concrete results. Some people like ice cream! 

What motivates you to keep studying?

Expressions:

like nothing else = 他の何よりも

take someone out for [ice cream, udon, etc.] = 何かを奢る

strain one’s ears = 耳を澄ます

memories associated with something = 何かに結びついている思い出

in earnest = 本気になって

read out loud = 朗読する

shared interests = 共通の趣味

spend quality time = 充実した時間を過ごす

study buddy = 勉強友達

hold each other accountable = お互いに責任を負う

friendly competition = 切磋琢磨

concrete results = 具体的な結果

Me and my study buddy, working hard!