I Asked My 15-Year-Old If He Ever Wanted to Quit Foreign Language

Adelaide: Hey, I’m Adelaide from TalkBox.Mom.

Darian: And I’m Darian, son of Adelaide.

Adelaide: Where we help you to start talking in foreign language the same day you start. And today Darian is answering questions honestly about learning a foreign language.

Are you ready, Darian? 

Darian: Of course I am.

Question 1

Adelaide: What’s the funniest mistake you’ve ever made in another language?

Darian: I just remember yours. We were in Japan and we went to a convenience store and we got some drinks. And then my mom was going to pay and she said, “Can I please eat the receipt?” Instead of just “Can I have the receipt?” They really thought she was going to eat it, so they were like, No, please don’t eat it.

Adelaide: I liked that they thought, “I’m not gonna give her the receipt. She’s crazy.”

Darian: Yeah, they would not give it to her. They were like, Nope. 

Adelaide: And then I realized what I said, and then I asked if I could have the receipt. So yeah, that was pretty bad.

Question 2

Adelaide: What’s the most awkward moment you’ve had using a foreign language?

Darian: Misunderstanding what they said, or if I said it wrong they think I said something else and I’m like, oh, I didn’t mean that.

Adelaide: Are you gonna mention the ladies you were hitting on in Japan?

Darian: Okay. In Japan. Tokyo, Disney, we were in line. My mom and Nolan both told me that I think it’s Kawaiine? 

Adelaide: “Kawaiine.” Something like that. “Kawaiine.” something cute.

Darian: Meant like hello to like girls my age or whatever. And I was like, “Oh, that’s cool. I didn’t know there was multiple ways.” And so I used it ’cause I trust my family members. They wouldn’t like betray me or like…

Adelaide: Never.

Darian: After using it a couple times, I don’t think anybody heard me ’cause it was too, I was saying it too quietly.

I really hope no one heard me.

Adelaide: Why, why do you hope that?

Darian: It means you’re really cute. So I said it to many people.

Adelaide: They were flattered. And then what did Nolan do after?

Darian: He used it and took pictures with many, many, many girls. He did not hold back. 

Adelaide: And I think they really loved it too, that there is some young boy from the USA telling them how cute they are. 

Question 3

Adelaide: What do you do when a phrase feels impossible to say? 

Darian: I would listen to the word by word of it. Try to put those together once I get confident for the first two, you know, build it and just try to say it. I’m gonna probably say it horrible or miss some things, but I’m just gonna try to say it the full thing. Just keep listening to it. Eventually it’s just gonna get better. Even when we’re doing Korean, the long phrases, you know, we’ll mumble it, but then we keep listening to it and then we’ll get better.

Adelaide: Do you feel like I am more chicken to choose a long phrase than you?

Darian: Yeah, definitely. You’re like, when we’re even in the Consistency Crew, I’m like, well, let’s do that phrase. You’re like, “No, it’s too long!” And then you scroll as fast as you can. She picks a tiny phrase. I want big challenging ones. She’s ti- She wants tiny, teeny phrases.

Adelaide: I’m building my confidence.

Question 4

Adelaide: Do people treat you differently when you speak their language?

Darian: They do treat you differently. They can understand you, you can talk to them so you have a conversation. I think Everybody’s always a little happier.

Adelaide: What if you only can say a little bit in their language, do they care?

Darian: If you can say just one thing, they’ll be so happy. Even if it’s like the smallest thing.

Question 5

Adelaide: Has speaking another language ever made you feel more confident?

Darian: Yeah. For like public speaking, stuff like that? Definitely.

Adelaide: Why has helped?

Darian: ‘Cause I mean, I’m scared even speaking English, like I still have trouble with that, and that’s really helped pushed me, put me in more situations that I have to talk to them. So it’s definitely like grown my confidence.

Adelaide: Who pushed you into those situations?

Question 6

Adelaide: What’s the fastest way to get better at speaking another language?

Darian: Just keep going. Don’t take long breaks, be consistent. Don’t give up. I mean, the Consistency Crew works great for that.

Adelaide: That’s awesome. You also host the Consistency Crew.

Darian: I do host the Consistency Crew.

Adelaide: Mr. Consistent.

Question 7

Adelaide: Have you ever wanted to quit and why?

Darian: The only times I really wanted to quit was in, it’s like my mom would like make me talk to someone that I don’t know, and I’m really scared. I would talk to ’em anyways and I’ll do it and I’m happy that I did it.

Adelaide: I’m glad that you don’t quit and you keep going forward. You know what, when you were a baby, you wanted to quit so much, you would say things like this, Darian, and you’d be like, “Talk how I’m talking right now!”

When we were in Brazil, you told a lady in Brazil “I don’t wanna speak Portuguese’!” And you did not wanna practice and you did not want to show up. If there’s a parent out there and your little one doesn’t wanna do it, Darian tell me now, are you happy we kept going or would you be happy if we had stopped?

Darian: I’d be so, I’d be sad if we stopped ’cause I don’t know how to speak in Spanish, German. Very, very happy that you kept going even though I was a little monster, I guess.

Adelaide: But a cute monster.

Question 8

Adelaide: What’s harder? Practicing at home or using the language in public?

Darian: Of course, using the language in public, but it’s very rewarding. After you speak a little, just a little bit in public, you’ll see how easy it is. Just always that first step is the hardest and then it’ll just keep going. It’s fun. ’cause you actually can speak to someone to me it’s just really cool.

Adelaide: Do you remember when you got that kid in Mexico? I don’t know. He probably was like 10 or younger, to take you on his ATV.

Darian: Oh yeah.

Adelaide: Around his property. You got on there and Nolan got on there and his little brother and him. And he just took off.

Darian: He was so fast.

Adelaide: But Spanish only took you there, right? Like couldn’t have done it without Spanish. He didn’t speak any English, right?

Darian: No, yeah.

Adelaide: Yeah. That’s pretty cool.

Question 9

Adelaide: Last question here. If a teen is embarrassed about their accent, what would you say to them?

Real time. Real time, Darian!

Darian: It doesn’t really matter because like, no one’s really gonna care. And I know like a lot of people are probably gonna say like, no, no one cares. No one cares. But really they’re just really happy that you’re actually saying it and you’re using it.

And the more you use it, the more the accent will go away.

Adelaide: Darian, did you answer them all honestly?

Darian: Yes, I did. Honest Darian.

Adelaide: Honest Darian. Thank you so much for joining us!

Darian: Thank you!