So…you’re an introvert?

Extroverts sparkle; introverts glow.

-Sophia Dembling

⏱ Reading time: 4 minutes

Perhaps if you’re introverted, you’ve wondered if language learning isn’t rigged in favor of the extroverts. Even knowing that it’s essential to improving your proficiency, the thought of getting out and speaking with others in your target language can be daunting. It can be frustrating watching extroverts do it without the same hesitations you have.

Researchers like Zoltán Dörnyei, an expert on the psychology of language learning, have found, as you may have experienced, that introverts often benefit less from learning strategies that involve speaking with others than extroverts. However, they are more likely to excel at other language learning tasks than extroverts. (If you want to read more, check out chapter 2 of his book The Psychology of the Language Learner: Individual Differences in Second Language Acquisition)

At the end of the day, introverts and extroverts are two sides of the same coin, so the key to language learning success as an introvert (or extrovert) is knowing yourself and what approaches do (and don’t) work for you.

Remember Hannah? She’s an extrovert, and in her story, she describes herself as having an “outgoing and confident personality.” During her study abroad experience, she was able to use that to her advantage to “[exploit] all the opportunities that [she] could talk and interact with locals.” This was key in helping her make connections with native speakers and improve her speaking skills.

On the other hand, there are success stories for introverts like Gustaf. Like Hannah, he doubted whether he should continue studying Arabic after a difficult first year. He was encouraged to continue and decided to persevere. During his study abroad in Jordan (the same program Hannah participated in), he often had a tough time getting out of his apartment to practice Arabic. He allowed more outgoing roommates to help him get out and about sometimes, but that approach wasn’t sustainable for him. Eventually, an instructor suggested he use the app Hello Talk to connect with Arabs online. This enabled him to find opportunities to practice—and new friends!—that fit his needs well. One of these new friends was a Lebanese peer, who loved to talk music and philosophy with him. For Gustaf, a Music Performance major and deep thinker, this was exactly the kind of connection he needed that allowed him the flexibility to speak with his new friends from his apartment.

Both Gustaf and Hannah qualified to participate in the competitive Flagship program on their first try—this despite their different personalities and the difficulties they faced studying Arabic. The contrast (and similarities) between these two students and their experiences highlights that language learning is within reach for extroverts and introverts alike!