At 3, surrounded by my extensive Chinese family from my father’s side of the family, Cantonese was my native tongue. When I turned 5, I began primarily learning and using only Vietnamese after entering kindergarten. In the 3rd grade, I moved to the United States and started to learn English for the first time. In middle school, throughout high school, and eventually college, I take Japanese classes. The majority of my life has revolved around learning some new languages. I thoroughly enjoy the social opportunities that open up when I start learning a new language as it allows a more personal understanding of the culture.
During the summer of my Sophomore year, I studied abroad under Suzuki-Sensei and was assigned to a lovely Japanese family, the Matsushima’s, for homestay. Initially, I was wary of my very limited Japanese and inability to communicate. However, they were the most supportive and welcoming family unit I have ever met. They patiently taught me various things about the Japanese language and culture. I remember how my host father loved to talk about politics and philosophy while my host mother and I often talked about our everyday life.
My least favorite thing about learning languages is that unless I am able to use my skill in everyday context, I will quickly lose my ability to use the language effectively; living in the United States, I had lost most of my ability to understand Cantonese and Vietnamese due to the lack of usage. While I still use Vietnamese with my mother and father from time to time, my living so far from home had seems to exacerbate the problem. Similarly, after my study abroad had ended, I seldom use Japanese outside of the classroom. In combination with a rather busy work life outside of school, I find the fluency that I once grasped slipping. I am frustrated and feels that unless I can implement my learning into my everyday activities, say conversing with a native, I would have a lot of trouble retaining my ability to effectively use the languages I have worked so hard to learn.
According to the FIRE model and the surveys I have completed, I am a bit of a factual and evaluative learner. According to the chart, I would learn best through tactile works that are supported by recognition and acknowledgment. I think I should be more proactive in my learning process as I easily find traditional studying methods to be boring. It is recommended that I learn things hands on through touching, building, moving, or drawing rather than through basic memorization. 55% of my learning style is tactile, meaning I understand and learn through physical movements. As a tactile learner, however, I can easily get bored of things unless I have a profound interest in the subject. I can remember things that were done but not how they were done. Additionally, I’m also a visual (20%) and auditory (25%) learner. Therefore, half of my learning styles involves the things I see and heard. In order to learn more effectively, I will be implementing less traditional methods of studying like “teaching” what I have learned and “immersing” myself in things that are more ‘interesting’ like music, books, films, and et cetera.
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