How ADHD made me a better language learner
About this episode
The episode discusses how ADHD can be leveraged as a strength in language learning through specific strategies and approaches.
In this episode of the Language and Travel Hacking Podcast, I share how ADHD, something that once made me feel like I was terrible at languages, has actually become one of my greatest strengths as a learner. Although I was only diagnosed as an adult, looking back I can clearly see how distractibility and a constant need for dopamine hits made school language classes a nightmare for me. English, Irish and German were consistently my worst subjects, and I assumed that meant I simply was not cut out for languages. Now I completely reject that idea. Being bad at languages in school only means you were bad at learning them in that environment. It says nothing about your potential as an adult. I explain how I’ve deliberately designed my entire learning philosophy around short-term missions, public accountability and real human interaction to harness the hyperfocus that often comes with ADHD. My three-month missions, weekly mini-goals and regular conversations create urgency and momentum, turning what could be a weakness into a superpower. While ADHD still has its challenges, I’ve learned to channel it into immersive travel experiences and meaningful connections through language. If you…
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