I have been in language classes for seven out of eight semesters of college, so one might assume that language learning is my passion. The truth is that I did not go into college planning to study three different languages. On the contrary, language classes push me out of my comfort zone. I find trying to form new sounds with my mouth in front of other people very intimidating, not to mention the discomfort of not understanding what my peers and instructor were saying. While the languages seem to seek me out rather than the other way around, I have found my language learning experiences meaningful because they help me develop relationships across cultures. I am studying Bahasa Indonesian this semester because I would like to be an English Teaching Assistant there. I think the Self-directed language study will be valuable because I will learn effective pedagogy for my classroom and personal learning. I will probably try to learn more languages in the future: Spanish, because it is widely spoken in the United States, and potentially Latin and Greek if I decide to pursue a Master’s of Divinity after graduation. Given these future language adventures, I will appreciate having the background knowledge of linguistics.
My background in art informs my learning style, and the surveys fittingly affirm that I am a visual learner. I know this to be true because I have to write vocabulary down to remember it and enjoy creative projects that allow me to synthesize the knowledge I have learned. In the studio, I am always painting and thinking about different ways to visually represent what I encounter in the world. Because creating supportive learning environments is especially important to me, the integrative thinking method I resonate most with is "Evaluative." This approach is central to my art practice because I look for parallels between the languages I speak and the visual language that I paint with.
The language classes I have taken in college have created a space that supports the needs of different learners. For example, my German class encouraged students to take the initiative for their own learning by choosing vocabulary words that were relevant to them. During class, we would talk both in pairs, large groups, and online discussion boards. We would also move around the classroom and often write on the whiteboard, which I found helpful since I do not like to sit for long periods. My favorite unit assignment was making a video about what Heimat, or the cozy feeling of home, meant to me. These diverse activities within a single class period helped to make language learning engaging, even though it was difficult at times, and we had to be okay with making mistakes. German Literature was my favorite language class because I got to analyze texts in their original language and learn about the country’s culture through these selections. Even though I still have not been to Germany, these language studies helped inform my interests in other disciplines.
Studying Italian was a unique experience for me because I was able to learn it in Italy and use my skills to navigate daily life. I was impressed by how quickly I was able to hold a conversation with the natives. The found of forming cross-cultural relationships pushed me to immerse myself in my Italian studies. I found that an effective way for me to practice language learning was to attend church services. I knew what was being said during the service because it was the same format as the ones I attended at home.
The "12 Secrets to Learning Language" article and my own experience show that continuous speaking practice is the key to learning a language. However, I must acknowledge the reality that I am more of a listener. One-on-one conversations are the most comfortable for me, and fortunately, this is the format I will mainly be using to converse with language partners. Learning Indonesian with Farida six times a week will be the best format for me to develop speaking competency while having the opportunity to learn about her culture in a supportive learning environment. Plus, as someone hoping to teach English in Indonesia, it will be beneficial to have the experience of being taught by someone who was trained in an Indonesian teaching program. I will have the opportunity to apply the learning insights from the surveys to our weekly one-on-one tutoring sessions, where I can propose specific topics for us to talk about and methods for practicing the language.
In preparation for studying abroad in Italy and applying to be an ETA in Indonesia, I have tried to do informal independent language studies in Italian and Indonesia. However, I had difficulty starting with programs like Duolingo and Mango languages because they do not provide context on the language’s grammar and also do not provide opportunities to apply the language to real conversations. German, which is notorious for its systematic grammar structure, is the first language I learned, so I needed some kind of context for these new languages to make sense. Reflecting on what worked and what did not work in my previous language studies will help me to have a rewarding semester of studying Bahasa Indonesian. Ultimately, I am excited to embark on this new chapter of language learning!
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