My language learning journey
The English language has been in my life for quite a while. I have a British godfather, needing English in my workplace, talking in English in MMO games and watching tv programs in English. All these small things accumulated slowly over the years and built a foundation for my language skills. I believe many of my peers share similar experiences—perhaps not the godfather part, but the exposure through media, games, and everyday life. This kind of learning feels effortless, but it is surprisingly useful.
Because I have always been a rather lazy learner, traditional studying methods have never held my interest for long. I prefer approaches that allow me to absorb language without feeling like I am doing hard work. In that sense, learning a language can be easier than studying other subjects, because it surrounds you. You hear expressions, adopt new structures, and pick up vocabulary even when you are not consciously trying. So, for this reason, my best advice for anyone studying English is to make the learning process fun, or at least enjoyable. For me, this means studying with a friend, using new vocabulary in casual English conversations, doing English word puzzles, or watching TV shows while paying attention to grammar and word choices.
In this term I have not been really focused on trying to improve my language skills by these methods. I do these things regardless and probably will do them for a long time. I will continue being exposed to the English language in a lot of different forms. In media, in work and in games.
This course taught me quite a lot of useful English skills that I will probably be using in my future career. Of course, vocabulary is a big part of what I will need in this field, but equally important are the communication skills we practiced. Academic writing, citing, and learning how to structure information clearly will all be valuable in any professional environment, school or work.
In conclusion, my language learning journey has been shaped mostly by everyday exposure rather than traditional studying. This type of approach I would recommend to anyone studying any language. These small experiences strengthen both confidence and language skills. As I move forward, I hope to keep learning in a natural, enjoyable way and to apply the communication skills I have gained in my future computer science career.
This post is relatable and well-written, especially your point about learning English naturally through media, games, and everyday use. You clearly explain why enjoyable, low-pressure learning works best for you and connect it well to your future career. As a small critique, adding a more specific example from the course could make your reflection even stronger.
VastaaPoistaI can also relate to learning English through different types of media. I absolutely agree that it is the best way for a student to harness language skills. Well written and thought provoking text!
VastaaPoista