Speaking another language can be challenging, and it's not uncommon to feel like a different person when you speak in a language other than your native tongue. Here are some reasons why it's hard to feel like yourself while speaking another language:

1. Language shapes your identity: Language is a crucial component of your identity, and it can be challenging to express yourself fully in a language that is not your own. When you speak in a different language, you may feel like you're not fully expressing yourself, which can make you feel like you're not being true to who you are.

2. Different cultural norms: Different cultures have different ways of expressing themselves, and this can be a significant factor in feeling like yourself when speaking another language. For example, in some cultures, it's considered impolite to interrupt someone during a conversation, while in others, interrupting is seen as a sign of active engagement. Adapting to different cultural norms can be challenging, and it can feel like you're not being true to yourself.

3. Linguistic limitations: No matter how proficient you are in a language, there are always going to be limitations to what you can express. You may struggle to find the right words to express your thoughts or emotions fully, and this can be frustrating and make you feel like you're not being authentic.

4. Emotional impact: Speaking another language can be emotionally taxing, especially if you're not fluent or feel self-conscious about your skills. This emotional toll can make it difficult to feel like yourself, as you may be preoccupied with your language skills rather than fully immersing yourself in the conversation.

Feeling like yourself while speaking another language can be challenging. Language shapes your identity, different cultural norms can be confusing, linguistic limitations can be frustrating, and the emotional impact can be overwhelming. However, with practice and patience, you can learn to feel more comfortable and confident in your language skills, allowing you to express yourself fully and authentically in any language.

By allowing you to choose lessons where the speaker has a similar age and background to you, we help you to build out a way of speaking that is aligned with your personality, interests, social circles, and overall sense of self. Translating your identity directly into another language is often impossible, but by identifying the relative differences in cultural norms and linguistic limitations from language to language, you can build out yourself in another language and form genuine connections with others.