Reflection Paper 1

[Oliver Cho]

In my life I have learned 3 languages. I began with English, which I learned through my life experience and growing up around a English speaking environment. I am now fluent in English The second language I learned was Mandirin. I learned Mandirin by speaking it with my babysitter between the ages of 1 and 5. By regularly speaking Mandirin I have become a fluent speaker of Mandirin, but I do not have the ability to read or write the language. My final language is Spanish, which I learned starting in middle school. I carried on to learn Spanish for another 4 years in high school. I also furthered my Spanish speaking ability during a 2 month service trip in Nicaragua. I am at an intermediate level of familiarity with the language. I really don't remember learning English or Mandirin, as I was too young to remember. However, I can clearly remember how I have grown to learn Spanish, I enjoy being able to use the actually use the language. After having learned it for 6 years, I truly enjoyed going to Nicaragua, and speaking to people with language I had spent to much time learning. On the other hand, I did not enjoy learning conjugation and everything in the language in such a structured way. I found I learned much more in my 2 months in Nicaragua than I did during my 6 years in the classroom, because the learning was more natural, it wasn't forced upon me. I am an insightful learner. Activities that suit my learning style, are role playing, and case studies. I think in order to expand my language learning activities, I should go out and really try to use the language I am learning. Maybe try and meet someone who will converse with me in Portugese.