Over the semester I have struggled with being consistent on how much time I put into studying french. Once I started using the Duolingo app, which I have on my phone, I found it much easier to get a little bit better everyday. I also found it difficult to use a number of different resources because my knowledge of french was so limiting. I tried listening to french music, but I think that method will help far more in the future when I know more french. My plan for learning french going forward is to continue with Duolingo—after that, I really don’t know how proficient I will be so it’s hard for me to predict my next step. I might decide that I want to learn more french, and find another learning resource to do so. Or, I might want to use Duolingo to start learning another language—dutch or italian—and gain a basis of knowledge for that language/culture. Regardless of those decisions, I know I want to continue to learn a new language because I love having the ability to speak in multiple languages.
My favorite part of this semester was the discussions in class because of the new perspectives that I heard of on culture, language, and where they intersect. There are so many vastly different cultures in the world that I will never know of until I meet someone that is a part of them, and this class has made me appreciate even those that I am unaware of.
I enjoyed discussing the future of language, and the idea that if everyone spoke just one, universal language that many barriers would be broken down worldwide. I find the idea rather exciting that everyone could potentially speak just one language. Imagine the changes and the connection that the internet brought for people across continents, and how close we can feel to people we know in Europe or Africa right now. Implementing a universal language would create the same change in how close we are to our fellow humans, only on a more personable level. I would enjoy learning more about any person or organization whose goal is to implement or even propose a universal language. Looking at it from an outside view, if I was an alien, I would think that humans are bumbling idiots for not agreeing to communicate under the same terms with one another. From the insights I have gained throughout this course, I understand the power that language has in effecting how we see the world. While many people would be scared of just having one language, and losing all the cultures and languages that we have now, I think that the new language would promote a worldwide culture and only bring compassion and innovation. After all, it is far easier to hate or fear someone you can’t understand than one who you can ask a question.
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