Being bilingual sounds impressive on paper.
"Oh wow, you speak more than one language?" they say.
And you nod, smiling modestly… while your brain panics, desperately trying to sort out whether you're supposed to reply in Spanish, Romanian, or that one Japanese phrase you learned from anime in 2006.
That's the reality of bilingualism when you've got ADHD. It's not just speaking more than one language. It's your brain running multiple translation tabs at once and completely forgetting which one is active.
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ADHD and the Multilingual Meltdown
ADHD can be both a blessing and a bit of a troll when it comes to language learning. I had a glorious 100-day streak on Duolingo learning Japanese. Felt like an unstoppable machine. Then I had one bad day — total ADHD meltdown — and I haven't opened the app since. We're going on three months now. The owl has probably filed a missing person report.
Apparently, Duolingo even throws celebration parties for users who hit streak milestones — which makes me feel even worse for ghosting :(
I was going to reopen it after getting back from a recent trip to Poland… but I've also managed to lock myself out of my phone because I changed my PIN and — obviously — forgot it. Because what's a trip abroad without a bonus episode of 'guess your own security settings'?
When I'm trying to speak another language, my brain sometimes does this weird auto-pilot thing.
It's like:
"OK we need the word for 'bread'. That's pan in Spanish. Wait... paine in Romanian? Or Brot in German? Why are we thinking in Japanese now?!"
"OK we need the word for 'bread'. That's pan in Spanish. Wait... paine in Romanian? Or Brot in German? Why are we thinking in Japanese now?!"
So I open my mouth and out comes something that sounds like I'm trying to summon Siri via seizure.
Even just thinking can turn into linguistic chaos. I'll get the right word, but in the wrong language, and my brain somehow manages to piece it all together, but I'll stutter half my words and apologise, or you end up with a half-sentence in English, one rogue butchered Romanian word, and then a closing apology in Japanese.
Welcome to my TED Talk.
🧠 Quick Answer: Why Learn Spanish?
Learning Spanish isn't just about speaking another language — it boosts memory, strengthens focus (even with ADHD), and connects you to over 500 million people worldwide. Even a little goes a long way.
And it's not just me saying that — Harvard research has shown that bilingualism helps sharpen your cognitive skills, improve memory, and delay mental decline as we age. Basically, it's the brain gym we all need.
How to Learn Spanish With ADHD: A Quick Start Guide
- Keep it low-pressure: It's okay to take breaks. Restarting is part of the process.
- Use apps with gamification: Duolingo is ADHD-friendly — until it isn't.
- Embrace imperfect speaking: Mixing up languages? Totally normal.
- Make it personal: Songs, jokes, food — tie the language to emotion.
- Consistency > intensity: Five minutes a day is better than none.
That Time I Tried to Learn Spanish… Properly
My official Learn Spanish journey started at school — and by "started", I mean "was forced upon me". I hadn't been in the country long after returning from a two-year stay with family in Romania and had barely scraped together 20 hours of Spanish lessons before GCSE speaking exams rolled around.
Naturally, I walked into the verbal test with my brain operating in full 'Latin-based language soup' mode. I'd answer a question in half-decent Spanish, then instinctively correct myself in English, only to blurt out an apology in Romanian. I think I invented a new dialect that day. Romanglishpañol.
The teacher thought it was brilliant — bless her — and somehow, I still got a B. Probably out of pity, or because she was practically wetting herself laughing at how quickly my answers descended into complete chaos.
Singing in Six Languages (and Crying About It Later)
When my kids were little, I used to sing the numbers 1 to 10 in English, Romanian, Spanish, German, French and Japanese. It was my way of sneaking in early bilingual exposure without making it all flashcards and phonics. Just gentle, melodic learning while rocking them to sleep.
But like most good routines, life crept in. Covid, life, routines shifted, and eventually I just stopped... Writing this now, I'm tearing up. It's easy to feel like a rubbish dad sometimes. Especially when something you meant to keep doing just... fades away.
Swearing in Romanian, BBQs with the Delivery Driver, and Other Perks
These days, the only Romanian words the kids have really latched onto are — of course — the swears. Nothing bonds a family quite like your child yelling "Futu-i mă-ta!" while walking to the shops...
But there are bright spots too. One of my frequent Amazon delivery drivers is Romanian, and we always have a proper chinwag. When I was cooking Mici (Romanian / Balkan sausages that are just heavenly) on the BBQ last summer, he turned up and I couldn't not offer him some.
I also find I'm instantly drawn to foreign accents. It's like my brain has this 'Ooooh, I know that one!' moment — like a weird language Pokémon trainer.
Although the Slavic vs Scandi languages still throw me. Swedish? Slovakian? Who knows?
Learning a Language Isn't Linear — Especially With ADHD
If you're thinking it's time to learn Spanish, or another language that's calling to you — start. You don't need to master it. You don't even need to Duolingo your way to a 365-day streak (though, hats off if you do). Just be open to the idea that learning a language is a journey.
Some days are easier than others, and it may just be a temporary hyperfocus, or you may actually go the distance and beat my Duo streak!
Even if your ADHD brain starts answering in the wrong language or invents a new one mid-sentence - progress is still progress, and you're trying your best.
And maybe, just maybe, your kids will remember those lullabies one day. Even if they were in broken backwards English with a twist of Romanian.
