Congratulations to Andrea Tchesnovsky, a senior at UMass Amherst majoring in Comparative Literature with a minor in Italian Studies, for her selection as one of the winners of the campus-wide Why I Learn Languages essay contest! Originally from Sofia, Bulgaria, Andrea’s journey with languages is a beautiful story of identity, self-expression, and exploration.
In her essay, Andrea paints a vivid metaphor of herself as a house built with the languages she’s learned: Bulgarian, English, French, Spanish, and Italian. Each language represents a room or space in her life, shaping her identity and the way she experiences the world.
“If I am a house, then Bulgarian and English are my foundation, the basis upon which I lay the rest,” she writes. Bulgarian is her native language, the voice in which she feels most genuine. It grounds her identity and connects her to her roots in Sofia, Bulgaria. Meanwhile, English is her language of creativity and self-expression. It’s where her ideas for stories come to life.
“Spanish is the screened-in porch,” a place from which she views the world, reminding her of the springtime scents of Seville, Spain, where she studied abroad and explored Europe. French is the apple tree in the backyard, a language she learned at eight years old that continues to enrich her life. Italian is the playroom, where she rediscovers the joy and curiosity of learning something new.
“Ultimately, that’s why I do it—so my house can grow until it’s big enough to swallow the whole world,” Andrea wrote. For her, language learning goes beyond words. It’s about connecting with people and cultures in a more profound way. She finds joy in speaking to others in their native language, feeling a deeper bond and understanding. Her time in Spain allowed her to experience a different way of life, opening her mind to new perspectives and seeing the world through someone else’s eyes.
Learning multiple languages is not without challenges. Andrea admits that it’s sometimes difficult to keep them distinct in her mind, especially since they occasionally blend together. She advises other language learners to keep going, even when it feels hard. “You can’t learn a language in a year,” she says, emphasizing the importance of perseverance. The beauty lies in the journey itself.
For Andrea, languages are more than tools—they’re gateways to different worlds. Each language carries its own culture, traditions, and way of life. By learning them, she’s gained a deeper appreciation for the diversity of human experiences. Her multilingual identity isn’t tied to just one culture or place. It’s a mosaic of all the places she’s been, the people she’s met, and the stories she’s heard.
Andrea’s journey with languages continues to evolve. Her next goal is to learn Greek, inspired by her annual summer trips to Greece from Bulgaria. She even has a tattoo of the Greek word for “eternal,” symbolizing her love for the culture and her desire to keep growing.
She also dreams of becoming an author of romance novels, perhaps even translating her own works someday. Her passion for storytelling and language learning will no doubt shape her future in exciting ways.
Andrea Tchesnovsky’s beautiful metaphor of languages as rooms in a house reminds us that learning a language is about more than words—it’s about building connections, expanding our worldview, and discovering ourselves. Her story inspires us to keep exploring, growing, and learning.
Andrea, as well as the other winners of the essay contest, will be featured during a panel discussion as part of HFA Days on March 28th. Details to come.