Learning 3 Languages: Challenges and Lessons Learned

This year I’d like to share what it’s been like learning three languages, each of them at the B1 level or below. 

For good reason, I focused on three very different languages—Turkish, Serbian, and Hungarian—each at a different stage of development. Turkish is my “newborn,” Serbian is like a “rebellious pre-teen,” and Hungarian is my “apathetic young adult.” 

Each of these three languages required distinct strategies, creative solutions, and a good dose of patience.

Click on the link above if you want to see me speak those languages as well talk about them in-depth. 

In this article, I’ll share why I chose these three languages, the mistakes I made, and the lessons I learned that you can apply to your own language-learning journey.

LEARNING THREE LANGUAGES: TURKISH AKA THE NEWBORN

When you’re learning three languages, each one has to have a strong why and Turkish became my newest language baby in 2024. 

But why?

Proximity to Italy played a role, as did my fascination with Turkish culture, sparked by meeting some wonderful Turkish friends in Berlin. Plus, people often assume I’m Turkish—so why not surprise them by actually speaking the language?

I began my journey on New Year’s Day using the ASSIMIL Turkish course (the French version). For the first three months, I dedicated about 75 minutes daily to learning Turkish with my Bi-Directional Translation method. However, by April, my motivation waned. I realized I had been pushing too hard and needed a break.

Lessons Learned:

1. It’s okay to pause. Motivation ebbs and flows, and taking a break can reignite your enthusiasm.

2. Stay in the Goldilocks Zone. Finding content that is neither too easy nor too difficult is crucial. I transitioned to more accessible resources, such as Super Easy Turkish videos and YouTube content by Teacher Ali Yilmaz, which were engaging and at my level. Additionally, LingQ has great options for starting out in Turkish as well! 

After nearly a year, my Turkish is at an A2 level. 

Like a baby learning to crawl, I’m taking it one step at a time and focusing on steady progress.

LEARNING THREE LANGUAGES: Serbian aka The Rebellious Pre-Teen

While learning three languages, the middle one (in terms of experience) can be in the toughest spot. 

I began learning Serbian in 2022, inspired by my love for the Balkans and its rich history. Visiting Belgrade made me feel right at home—Serbs’ humor, hospitality, and lifestyle reminded me of Italians. 

Serbian, however, has reached the “pre-teen” phase: it’s full of potential but rebellious and needs discipline to progress.

Without an ASSIMIL Serbian course, I had to get creative. My Serbian friend, Branka, helped me adapt the Croatian ASSIMIL version into Serbian Cyrillic. Together, we also created custom materials using BBC 6-Minute Podcasts, translating and recording them in Serbian.

While my comprehension improved significantly, my speaking lagged behind. Russian and Polish often bleed into my Serbian, influencing vocabulary and pronunciation.

Lessons Learned:

1. Visit the country. My September trip to Belgrade reignited my motivation and opened up practical opportunities to use Serbian in real-life contexts.

2. Real interactions matter. Saying a simple phrase like “једну кесу молим вас” (One bag, please) at the supermarket boosted my confidence.

After two years, my Serbian is at a solid B1 level. 

With more consistent practice, I’m determined to move it forward.

LEARNING THREE LANGUAGES: Hungarian aka The Apathetic Young Adult

There always has to be one language you can rely upon when you’re learning three languages. Hungarian has been part of my life since 2015, and Budapest is one of my favorite cities. Despite my love for the language, Hungarian has been challenging. 

Initially, I focused too much on speaking and neglected input, which left me struggling with comprehension.

The turning point came when I shifted my focus to listening and reading. With podcasts and content from my tutors, Petra and Anita, I rebuilt my foundation. This change not only improved my comprehension but also boosted my speaking ability.

However, there’s one app that I’ve fallen head over heels for when it comes to improving one’s speaking ability, Langua. It has revamped the way I approach using my upper and lower intermediate languages, such as Greek and Hungarian.  

Lessons Learned:

1. Communication over perfection. Once I stopped trying to speak perfectly and focused on expressing myself, my Hungarian improved dramatically.
2. Input is key. Consistent listening and reading laid the groundwork for meaningful conversations.

Today, my Hungarian is at a B1+ level in speaking, and probably a bit higher, in listening and reading. While it requires constant nurturing, it’s a language I cherish deeply.

Learning three languages, each at different stages, taught me invaluable lessons about learning and maintaining languages:

• Turkish: Start slow, and don’t be afraid to pause when needed.
• Serbian: Be creative with resources, and immerse yourself in real-life experiences.
• Hungarian: Focus on communication over perfection and prioritize input for lasting progress.

Embrace the mistakes, enjoy the process and bring your language learning to life! :

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