I did not grow up in a foreign country and my parents are not fluent in any other language besides English. I have only been out of the United States once in my life and that was when I studied abroad in Australia, a country whose customs and culture are similar to those we practice in America; needless to say my linguistics were not challenged. I have studied different languages throughout my high school and college years, but it is safe to say that I am far from fluent in any language other than English. In high school, I studied Spanish for four straight years. To this day, I can remember some grammar and I can count to 100, but I would embarrass myself if I had to hold a conversation with someone who spoke only Spanish. The same goes for Italian. When I started as a freshman at the University of Richmond, I knew that I wanted to take a language that was new and different and that no one in my family had ever taken. I chose Italian. For one whole year, five days a week, one hour and fifteen minutes a day, I learned all I possibly could about the Italian language. From grammar and numbers to verb tenses and sentence formation, my professor did her very best to make sure the Italian language was embedded in our brains. Unfortunately, although I am more comfortable with my Italian-speaking abilities than I am with my Spanish-speaking abilities, I would need a lot more practice before I could converse with someone in Italian without making any mistakes.
For me, learning a new language is a lot fun. I enjoy being able to see the differences between languages and hear the different accents individuals have developed based on where they live. Over the weekend I completed two multiple intelligence tests and upon reviewing the results, I realized that they were extremely accurate and I began to think about and analyze my learning styles; something that I would have probably never done if it was not for taking these tests. Both tests revealed that I am both a social and solitary learner. At first, I did not see how this was possible seeing as how the terms are polar opposites. However, as I thought about the learning styles that I have used over the years, especially since I started attending the University of Richmond, I realized that I am in fact both a social and solitary learner. I prefer to communicate with fellow students when it comes to completing assignments or discussing a lecture. In addition, I have found that it is easier for me to learn material when I am listening to someone teach it to me, as opposed to reading it in a textbook. In the classroom, I enjoy when professors use examples and demonstrations in order to ensure that students understand what they are learning. I have found that I comprehend things much better when there is a video or model to illustrate what I have just read or been taught. Similarly, I enjoy taking classes in which professors communicate with and include their students in what they are teaching, rather than simply lecturing for 50 minutes to an hour.
Although I prefer to learn in groups, I have also found that I when it comes to studying and doing work, I prefer to be alone. When I study for a test, I need to be in a room that is completely quiet and where there are no distractions. Because I am easily distracted, I prefer to sit myself in the far corner of the library, with no computer or cell phone so that I am not sidetracked. I can safely say that when I work independently, I “get the job done”. I consider myself to be very self-disciplined which is why I believe that I will not have many problems teaching myself a completely new language. I have no experience when it comes to speaking Hebrew. In fact, I know very little about Jewish culture and traditions. But I am anxious to learn all that I can. It would be impossible for me to expect to be fluent in Hebrew by the end of the semester. Although that would be extraordinary, it is also very impracticable. That being the case, by the end of the semester, I would like to be able to hold short, simple conversations in Hebrew and possibly be able to write short phrases. I want to be able to pronounce and write most of the letters in the Hebrew alphabet, as well as learn up to 5 new vocabulary words a week. I would love to be able to read simple texts and phrases that are common among the Hebrew language. All in all, I know that learning a completely new language is going to be tough and at times I am going to feel frustrated. Right now, I do not know if my goals are too ambitious, but I always think it is better to set the bar high and simply see what happens.
Comments
Nice picture :) I don't think your goals are too ambitious. As I read your post, I thought you were very analytical and you have reflected on your learning experience in detail. Knowing your strengths will help you accomplish your goals.