Jocelyne Rodriguez
Response Paper 1
SLDC 105
My experiences as a language learner have been very enriching since they allow me to learn more about the target language but also my own by giving me a point of comparison. My study of Portuguese is my fourth experience as a language learner. My first language is Spanish and so my first experience as a language learner was with English. Then, later in high school I took a couple of French classes. Most recently, I studied abroad in Italy last year so I studied some Italian on my own before leaving and took a course while I was there. Each experience had been different and allowed me to learn more about my learning style. For example, while learning French my classes really emphasized grammar and written exams and compositions and so my French was much better in writing than verbally. On the other hand, while learning Italian I was able to immerse in the language, practice speaking, and listen to it on a regular basis. My classes for Italian were mostly discussion-based and so my speaking became better than my writing. This time I want to find a balance. I want to develop both speaking and writing skills and Portuguese and so I want to incorporate diverse forms of learning. I know now that I have more than one learning style but that depending on the style I choose (visual/ listening), my learning outcome will be different. Therefore, based on my learning goals, I want to incorporate visual learning exercises that emphasize reading and writing at the same time that I incorporate verbal exercises to practice speaking and listening. Listening to music with lyrics and watching shows with subtitles might be very helpful since they incorporate both sound and writing simultaneously and allow me to see the connection between the two.
What I enjoy the most as a language learner is being able to see progress. That moment when you are listening to a song that has been in your playlist for a month and you are finally able to make out some of the words, or when you see a word in a class reading about the country of your target language and you actually know the meaning. Something else I enjoy is the ability to incorporate culture along with your study of language. I am an anthropology minor and so I truly enjoy learning more about new cultures, not only because it is fascinating but also because it helps you put into perspective you own practices and question the things you thought were normal for everyone but were actually characteristics of your own particular culture.
What I do not like about language learning is the time it takes to master a new language. Sometimes I become frustrated when I cannot master simple things from my target language like pronouncing nasal sounds (which are very common in Portuguese). Another thing that I wish I could change is the exposure to the language. Learning a language with limited immersion can be hard as you are not naturally exposed to the language but you actively have to seek this exposure. I wish I had more people around me to practice speaking Portuguese but having a language partner and media resources has been very helpful.
Using the FIRE model, I have discover that I am both a factual and rational learner. I like to know rules and have concrete expectations and guidelines, at the same time that I like to know the explanations behind the rules and exploring intriguing questions I encounter. Factual learning for me is a form of summarizing what I learn, while rational learning is more of a way to form meaningful connections between facts and personal experience that allow me to remember rules and facts.
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