General

Introverts and extroverts are basic personality types according to the theories of the 20th-century Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung. According to these theories, an introvert is a person whose interest is generally directed inward toward his feelings and thoughts, in contrast to an extrovert, whose attention is directed toward other people and the outside world”. The source of this text is the Britannica website and it’s a Science article.(https://www.britannica.com/science/introvert)

This very interesting article published by Friederike Fabritius “A neuroscientist shares the 4 ‘highly coveted’ skills that set introverts apart: Their brains work differently” explains how difficult it can be to change from introvert to extrovert. “One Harvard study found that introverts' brains work differently and have thicker gray matter compared to extroverts. In strongly extroverted people, the gray matter was consistently thinner. Introverts also showed more activity in the frontal lobes, where analysis and rational thought take place”.

It’s fascinating how science can give answers we can imagine. How can introverts regulate their activity in their frontal lobes? Or how can you ask an extrovert to increase their frontal lobes activity to be more rational? It’s not as simple as asking to be balanced as well.

Some time ago I had a test and according to those results, I am an extrovert. It’s true because I always need to talk to somebody about my problems. I need my family, friends, and colleagues to interact. In my culture and native language, I am an extrovert. Then living in Canada where I must immerse in the culture and speak English I am introverted. I am the opposite because from time to time I don’t know how to say it and my pronunciation is not good. I feel insecure and not very comfortable. I prefer to be quiet and; avoiding giving my opinion feels safer.

I am working very hard every day to improve my English skills and I want to be fluent, influential and an extrovert. I was thinking and reading a lot about that. And you know what I learned? Leaving our comfort zones, taking risks, and learning from our own mistakes will lead us to improvement and success.

I like this quote that gives a visual representation of the difference between extroverts and introverts and at the end makes them both special and unique: “Extroverts sparkle, Introverts glow. Extroverts are fireworks, introverts are a fire in the hearth” by Sophia Dembling.

Whether you consider yourself to be an extrovert or an introvert, learning a second language is a goal that anyone can accomplish. The course and time might vary. The key to success is figuring out how to enjoy the process on your terms. I invite you to challenge yourself. We can do it!