I loved the initial involvement with a language, the first couple of weeks learning the alphabet, numbers, and basic phrases, because every day I greatly increased my knowledge of the subject matter. I went from not knowing how to read or write Arabic to being able to do both at a basic level after only two weeks of study. However, after the first year of Arabic, came the part of language learning I hate: trudging through the “middle period.” I would describe the middle period as the second and third years of learning a language when it is difficult for one to see any real progress – progress is absolutely being made during this period, but I think it is difficult to recognize that fact. Yes, I learned some new vocabulary words and more grammar rules, but I still was not able to truly read any articles or watch any videos and understand them. Also, I could not effectively communicate in the language, taking too many pauses to think and not possessing a sufficient vocabulary to converse well. This period was a time of building on the foundation; but, by then, the initial passion for learning the language had dissipated for many people. To get through this period it was necessary for me to sit down, reflect on why I was learning the language, and look forward to a future when I would be able to effectively communicate and understand others in Arabic.
I am primarily a “Visual” and “Insightful” learner according to the surveys. I enjoy having structure and a neat learning environment. I am more comfortable with written words, thus I always take notes with pen & paper in class to transcribe my professors’ lectures half-literally and half-figuratively in my own understanding of the subject matter. I enjoy creative ways of learning such as skits and role-playing and use pictures and videos as visual aids. Overall, I like the challenge of learning and dealing with large theoretical concepts that lack a clear answer. Generally, I’m a “classic” learner in that I read books, take notes, and practice/struggle with the information contained in them. However, with all the new technology and free resources available today, I should expand my learning activities to include other media. Being a visual learner, I could use other visual media besides books – like movies, videos, websites, etc. – to expand my understanding. I also love maps and charts, so I want to find ways to integrate them into my language learning. However, truthfully, I need to challenge myself to engage in non-visual ways of learning as well. In terms of language, I have generally excelled at reading, writing, and grammar because of my focus on visual learning. But, I have struggled with speaking and listening to a language because I cannot visualize spoken language well. Therefore, I want to integrate more activities into my learning that allow me to practice visualizing spoken language and associating spoken language with written words, symbols, or pictures. Finally, in order to avoid feeling “stuck” in a language, I want to set specific, realistic goals that allow me to see my progress and assess my linguistic improvement.
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