The Best Time to Start Learning French

French is the 4th language I have ever learned - the one I started latest in life. And yet, it's the one I am most passionate about mastering.

When I first arrived in Los Angeles as a 2 year-old who only spoke Korean, my parents didn't concern themselves with providing me English language lessons. They knew I would be immersed in the language and naturally learn to navigate life in this whole new country.

Fast forward to high school where I took Spanish for four years and did quite well!

But it wasn't until I was a 19 that I took my first French class in college. And it's changed my entire life. It captured all my affections and created in me a craving to learn and experience more.

I got back from my 5th trip to France this past January ago. As much as seeing the sunset along the Seine each night, it is hearing and speaking French for a whole week that I miss most.

Apart from the usual ordering at cafés and buying museum tickets, my favorite interactions were meeting other believers at a Baptist Church and asking French people if they ever lose the wonder if living in Paris.

Real, authentic, meaningful interactions with people who were born and raised in a completely different culture from mine.

Learning a foreign language is completely wild, if you think deeply about it! Who knew the pig-tailed Korean toddler would singing French hymns in Paris!

The whole time I spoke French on the trip, I never once thought back on how old I was when I started my studies. Would I have loved to have been immersed in French since I was a child? For sure! But that was the last thing my immigrant parents were prioritizing for me when we first moved to the U.S.

Everything happens in its appointed time. And for me, I was overcome with GRATITUDE that the Lord had led me to learn this amazingly beautiful language to then share amazingly beautiful experiences with my family.

And as much as I want to urge homeschoolers to "start learning NOW or else you and your kids miss out", I know that there are a gazillion reasons people have for what they prioritize.

I took 2 former students with me on our recent trip! My niece and our other friend who is very much another niece to me, started learning French from me when they were 10 years old! And having both just finished a French 5 college class analyzing literature, they have had quite the training under their belt.

So seeing them experience the real art works we've studied, hear the songs we've enjoyed, order food and speak to each other in French while strolling cobbled Parisian streets throughout the week was another reason for me to be supremely THANKFUL.

But them starting at 10 and me not learning until I was 19 or maybe you not learning Bonjour until 39...there is NO wrong time.

But one thing is for sure....you'll never regret it and you will be so THANKFUL you did.