Neha Myneni's Senior Project: Learning Olandese and Italiaans

Comparing Languages  With our initial start in learning Italian and Dutch, Chloé and I began feeling a little more confident in tackling two completely new languages. However, we soon learned that the introductions will be the easiest part of learning any language and that our confidence was perhaps a little misplaced. I personally figured that after learning a couple of languages to moderate proficiency, tackling a third and a fourth would be much easier due to my familiarity with learning new languages. While there was some truth to this, as I was able to identify patterns within each language much faster, I still found myself struggling to become accustomed to the different syntax and rhythm of each language.  While Italian shares some similarities with French, a language I am familiar with, and Dutch is a language that I have become used to seeing written and spoken, actually learning these languages requires a different comprehension that varies depending on the language....

 The Start              It began on a day like any other in Portland, with worryingly cloudy skies on the verge of bursting. My friend Chloé and I were discussing the details of senior projects and she told me her plan: to learn as much Italian and Dutch over the course of a month as possible. I was instantly fascinated by the prospect because further bolstering my lingual skills was always an interest of mine, but one that I had kept pushing to an unnamed future date. However, here was the perfect opportunity to pursue language expertise and with the benefit of a partner.      I jumped on the proposal to work together and we began planning out a flexible outline to learn both Italian and Dutch. I personally had learned French for three years before and had recognized similar words between Italian and French. On the other hand, I also knew people who spoke Dutch fluently and found it fun to compare sounds between Dutch and Engl...