Nuts and Bolts of Second Language Acquisition - June 17th
Part 1:
To prepare for our upcoming journey, I interviewed a close friend of mine who's first language is German. She was a foreign exchange student during my junior year of high school; we had quite a few classes together and she quickly became my best friend! The following spring, I went to visit her in Germany. I was only 18 at the time and I don't believe I took as much out of the experience as I should have. I spent most of my time drinking and partying as that is the culture when you're 18 [no matter where you live!].
I 'interviewed' her to know what it was like to learn a second language. I've been told numerous times that English is, by far, the most difficult language to learn. I don't remember learning English but learning Spanish was crazy hard for me! I barely passed Spanish II!
She said that it was really hard but in Germany you're taught the basics of English in elementary grades. I wish more schools did that here - I wish I could have learned a language at an earlier age.
She says that Germany knows that English is the 'universal language' and most people around the world know it.
So even if you were a German person who went to Paris and you don't speak French, you could still speak English to try to get around. Most businesses in the world use English as well. Simply put: "English is just a smart language to learn no matter where you're from or where you're going." Wise words from Fabienne.
Part 2:
Our assignment said "Take two pieces of scratch paper, write the word “mother,” or “freedom,” whichever means the most to you. Look at the word and think about what it means to you. On the second piece of paper, write a one or two word descriptor of the most disgusting thing you can think of (you never have to know what it is). They then look at that and “try to get a visual.” Kiss the piece of paper with the disgusting thing and put the other paper with the positive value on the floor and step on it. Did you hesitant but comply? How did you feel?"
This made me think. How did these actions make me feel? And why did I feel this way? They were just words on a piece of paper!
My "most disgusting thing you can think of" was animal abuse. The thought of it makes me cry. After volunteering for the Humane Society of Seattle for a few years, you see some strange, messed up things. Things I cannot get out of my head. These things make up my nightmares. Kissing the paper with that on there gave me knots in my guts. Physical pain and issues in my belly.
Stomping on the paper that said Mother on it was also painful. My mother and I have an interesting relationship that I'll get into another time. But she is my best friend, my grandest cheerleader and my wisest inspiration. Stomping on her was crazy. I felt like I betrayed her somehow.
Which gets me thinking even more - Why do these words mean so much to us? Its not like I'm physically stomping on my mother or kissing an animal abuser...
I'll have to do more research on it. I'll be back with more!
To prepare for our upcoming journey, I interviewed a close friend of mine who's first language is German. She was a foreign exchange student during my junior year of high school; we had quite a few classes together and she quickly became my best friend! The following spring, I went to visit her in Germany. I was only 18 at the time and I don't believe I took as much out of the experience as I should have. I spent most of my time drinking and partying as that is the culture when you're 18 [no matter where you live!].
I 'interviewed' her to know what it was like to learn a second language. I've been told numerous times that English is, by far, the most difficult language to learn. I don't remember learning English but learning Spanish was crazy hard for me! I barely passed Spanish II!
She said that it was really hard but in Germany you're taught the basics of English in elementary grades. I wish more schools did that here - I wish I could have learned a language at an earlier age.
She says that Germany knows that English is the 'universal language' and most people around the world know it.
So even if you were a German person who went to Paris and you don't speak French, you could still speak English to try to get around. Most businesses in the world use English as well. Simply put: "English is just a smart language to learn no matter where you're from or where you're going." Wise words from Fabienne.
Part 2:
Our assignment said "Take two pieces of scratch paper, write the word “mother,” or “freedom,” whichever means the most to you. Look at the word and think about what it means to you. On the second piece of paper, write a one or two word descriptor of the most disgusting thing you can think of (you never have to know what it is). They then look at that and “try to get a visual.” Kiss the piece of paper with the disgusting thing and put the other paper with the positive value on the floor and step on it. Did you hesitant but comply? How did you feel?"
This made me think. How did these actions make me feel? And why did I feel this way? They were just words on a piece of paper!
My "most disgusting thing you can think of" was animal abuse. The thought of it makes me cry. After volunteering for the Humane Society of Seattle for a few years, you see some strange, messed up things. Things I cannot get out of my head. These things make up my nightmares. Kissing the paper with that on there gave me knots in my guts. Physical pain and issues in my belly.
Stomping on the paper that said Mother on it was also painful. My mother and I have an interesting relationship that I'll get into another time. But she is my best friend, my grandest cheerleader and my wisest inspiration. Stomping on her was crazy. I felt like I betrayed her somehow.
Which gets me thinking even more - Why do these words mean so much to us? Its not like I'm physically stomping on my mother or kissing an animal abuser...
I'll have to do more research on it. I'll be back with more!