studying a second language myself, i think that there are a lot of pros. It enables you to communicate with a wider range of people, that you would never have been able to talk to before. It opens up career oppourtunities, such as translating and interpreting, teaching or working in travel. You also learn a lot about other cultures, which is really interesting. I think that it also makes you a more understanding person. Before i began learning japanese, i used to get easily annoyed at people that struggled english. Now that i realise how hard that must be for them , I am alot more patient and understanding, and try to help them as much as i can.
I think personally, language represents the culture. So, one of good thing of learning language is that, as learn the language we could be familiar with the culure of tha language belong to. Whlie I learn English in New Zealand, I learn their culture as well.
Learning a second language definitely broadens one’s horizon by enabling the person to understand the culture around the language and the way of life. Once a Chinese girl told me that in Chinese schools, they only learn the English vocabulary and the grammar but don’t deal with the cultural aspects, the history. In my opinion you only can really learn a language when you use the language in the cultural context, so when you write your exams about a special event in history or about an English movie etc. I would like to know about the experiences of the Chinese students =)
in my opinion, the first thing to learn a second language is to listen well. I think listening provide a sense of a new language for you. it's like a baby the first thing a baby say is always mum or dad that because people always teach baby to say it. For me, as an international student here, I was alwasys listen radio or watch movies which were in English because I think I can develop my english skills from something which I am interested about.
Cherushii: I agree with what you're saying. I don't know if you know this but Japanese is one of the most difficult languages to learn. The reason its because there are 3 main scripts the Japanese use (4 including romaji) There could be other reasons. For me I have an advantage in learning Japanese not because i'm Chinese (Everyone thinks being HCinese has an advantage but not always) The Japanese uses the Kanji script borrwed form China and a lot of the words ahve similar meanings.
Irene: Learning a second language helps you understands that culture's language. If I never learnt Japanese I be learning Spanish =)
mohnkuchen: about Chiense people learning English in China... it's kinda true. I asked my sister and cousins in China about it and they all say you only learn about grammar and nothign about the English culture. They also said it was very boring too.
Lu: I thnk you got a point about getting the listenign aspect right. Lets take Japanese for example. In order to get fluent in it the first thing to do to get an idea about the language is to watch animes. I'm speakign from personal experience and well a lot of my American friends all want to learn Japanese. Guess they watched TOO MUCH anime XDD!! Well I think Japanese is heavily influenced by anime. My reason for getting into Jpanaese is different. I first learnt Japanese in Intermediate and foudn ti very fascinating and since then I've always wanted to learn more about Japanese and the culture. I didn't start watchign anime till i started 3rd form :P
As far as I'm concern,for learning second language, especially english, could means that you can be one of the members of this new global society, and to be able to use English has many advantage in our lives, so I 'd strongly recommend you to study or learn second language from now on~~!!
studying a second language myself, i think that there are a lot of pros.
ReplyDeleteIt enables you to communicate with a wider range of people, that you would never have been able to talk to before.
It opens up career oppourtunities, such as translating and interpreting, teaching or working in travel.
You also learn a lot about other cultures, which is really interesting.
I think that it also makes you a more understanding person. Before i began learning japanese, i used to get easily annoyed at people that struggled english. Now that i realise how hard that must be for them , I am alot more patient and understanding, and try to help them as much as i can.
I think personally, language represents the culture. So, one of good thing of learning language is that, as learn the language we could be familiar with the culure of tha language belong to. Whlie I learn English in New Zealand, I learn their culture as well.
ReplyDeleteLearning a second language definitely broadens one’s horizon by enabling the person to understand the culture around the language and the way of life. Once a Chinese girl told me that in Chinese schools, they only learn the English vocabulary and the grammar but don’t deal with the cultural aspects, the history. In my opinion you only can really learn a language when you use the language in the cultural context, so when you write your exams about a special event in history or about an English movie etc. I would like to know about the experiences of the Chinese students =)
ReplyDeletein my opinion, the first thing to learn a second language is to listen well. I think listening provide a sense of a new language for you. it's like a baby the first thing a baby say is always mum or dad that because people always teach baby to say it. For me, as an international student here, I was alwasys listen radio or watch movies which were in English because I think I can develop my english skills from something which I am interested about.
ReplyDeleteCherushii: I agree with what you're saying. I don't know if you know this but Japanese is one of the most difficult languages to learn. The reason its because there are 3 main scripts the Japanese use (4 including romaji) There could be other reasons. For me I have an advantage in learning Japanese not because i'm Chinese (Everyone thinks being HCinese has an advantage but not always) The Japanese uses the Kanji script borrwed form China and a lot of the words ahve similar meanings.
ReplyDeleteIrene: Learning a second language helps you understands that culture's language. If I never learnt Japanese I be learning Spanish =)
mohnkuchen: about Chiense people learning English in China... it's kinda true. I asked my sister and cousins in China about it and they all say you only learn about grammar and nothign about the English culture. They also said it was very boring too.
Lu: I thnk you got a point about getting the listenign aspect right. Lets take Japanese for example. In order to get fluent in it the first thing to do to get an idea about the language is to watch animes. I'm speakign from personal experience and well a lot of my American friends all want to learn Japanese. Guess they watched TOO MUCH anime XDD!! Well I think Japanese is heavily influenced by anime. My reason for getting into Jpanaese is different. I first learnt Japanese in Intermediate and foudn ti very fascinating and since then I've always wanted to learn more about Japanese and the culture. I didn't start watchign anime till i started 3rd form :P
As far as I'm concern,for learning second language, especially english, could means that you can be one of the members of this new global society, and to be able to use English has many advantage in our lives, so I 'd strongly recommend you to study or learn second language from now on~~!!
ReplyDelete