Learning languages

Recently, I've been revising my French for an exam. And I've come to realise how much the exam mode sucks the fun and the point out of it.

Intellectually, I can understand how studying for the exam should result in better scores. But it doesn't make the studying any more appealing.

My French teachers must have done a great job because I don't recall doing much studying for those exams. It was all about interacting with the culture.

I think when learning a language, it's all about the fun. Because a language is not rocket science. Would you say Chinese is a difficult language? Yea? But a billion people speak it.

The determining factor is whether you can keep learning the language by reading, writing, listening, and speaking. The fun keeps you learning even as there are obstacles to overcome, for example, lack of language environment, lack of funds for classes etc.

And I realise this logic extends to life in general. Making money is like that exam. Yes, you have to take it, but if you just focus on its results, it's going suck out the joy. Much better to focus on the spark.