How Second Language Acquisition Helped Me Survive the Challenges of Multilingual Learning, Essay Example

Learning is a process, although for me, it was more of a journey. This became true to me especially when I started attending a multilingual class. I cannot deny that it was one of the hardest experiences I had to endure. I had to push myself to go to the class and make myself focus on what was being taught. Many times, I found myself not concentrating on the subject and having my head wander somewhere else because of my lack of interest into the lessons presented. Later on, I realized that no matter what I do, I would have to finish this class and finishing it properly would affect my being accepted in the society hat I am aiming to engage in. Although I recognize this fact, I still find it hard to push myself further and learn as much as I needed. At the time, my personal question was how will my process of acquiring a second language affect my progress in handling my tasks in a multilingual class? In the long run, I further wonder how my current learning process would actually affect my overall progress in speaking English for casual and practical reasons. These questions continued to linger in my head until I found several lessons from particular readings that helped me understand my condition better, therefore giving me an idea on how I should face this particular challenge in my life.

What did other learners of second language do as they faced the same challenge I was going through? Knowing that I am not alone in this journey, it helped a lot to understand that there were some individuals who had their own share of being challenged with the need of learning a second language as a means of speech. For instance, Lu shared her own experience of having the need to be accustomed to a life of split languages. While she struggled with such a condition, she found herself trying to make amends on how much she loved Chinese language against that of the English language and how she could make the two languages come to an agreement in her head (441). Translating the words and phrases from one language to the other obviously made it easier for Lu to make a connection between the Chinese and the English language. On my part, what made it easier for me to seek the need to understand English was the fact that I was kind of ‘forced’ to acquire the language. The motivation was weak so it was harder for me to find a condition that practically responded to my need like that of Lu. Relating to what Hooks mentioned about education, I felt that learning English was more of a structured approach rather than a free way of exploring and understanding the language fully (297). This passage from Hook’s writing was an obvious occurrence on most of the classes I have joined. Hence, as a result, I learned how to adjust to my subjects by force and not by freewill. I depended so much in the structure that if the structure did not respond to my expectations, I easily lose interest on the lessons presented to me in class. Finding a personally designed process of learning like that of Lu was not an easy decision for me to make. Nevertheless, I tried the best I could to find the right inspiration I needed to be able to survive my years as I learn to acquire a second language while also embracing my role in my multilingual class. I was lost at first, however, through careful thinking and self-conviction, I later on learned to find a reason behind the excellence that I want to acquire in relation to the language that I want to speak.

How then could proper learning of a second language be promulgated? Taking from Lu’s experience again, I tried to accept my multilingual classes as a sense of challenge in relation to how I am able to contribute to the discussions as well as share my thoughts to critical points of the lessons’ presentation in the class (441). I admit, at some point, I hated the need to think critically and not be able to share my ideas fully. Hence, like Lu, what I did was to take so much from what I am learning through taking one word at a time hence specifically making a distinctive condition by which am able to manifest my learning through proper speech. My capacity to share my ideas started to improve through time. This progress made me feel free, something that was different from what Hooks mentioned earlier. Fully having control on how I learn through becoming more inspired and motivated over the matter gave me a better sense of understanding how I am supposed to take the chance to learn a new language as an opportunity than a struggle.

Through becoming more involved in my own process of learning, I realized that becoming more inspired and motivated comes from a background reason that is expected to be personally established by the learner himself. Through my personal experience, I realized the truth behind this idea. In a way, my query on how will my process of acquiring a second language affect my progress in handling my tasks in a multilingual class has been responded accordingly through the emerging conditions of my changing attitude towards learning. Nevertheless, the issue on how this learning could affect my future remains unanswered. True, acquiring a second language largely affects my learning process in a multilingual class. However, the ways by which this practice affects my living condition and social relationships outside the four walls of the classroom remain to be an undefined circumstance that I am still about to find out.  With the condition of learning that I began to embrace, I could gladly say that I learned so much from what Lu and Hooks as they provide inspiration about education and learning as a pattern towards one’s goal of becoming a better individual. Assuming a better position in handling the technicalities of utilizing the English language in both oral and written communication, I hope o continue my progression hence awaiting to see how this attitude towards learning and applying a second language could personally increase my social connection. In consideration to this case, some questions I still want to clarify include What are the possibilities of increasing my capacity to survive social challenges through proper language acquisition? How will my aim for personal development as I hope to use my new learned language be able to further the opportunities that are offered to me for the sake of progress? Will second language acquisition actually allow me to become a better individual as I embrace global principles of living? Answering these questions would allow me to understand more broadly how good second language acquisition could help me well in life.

Works Cited:

Hooks, B. Teaching to Transgress: Education as the practice of freedom. Conventional and Uncoventional Freedom. Pp 293-307.

Lu, M.Z. (1987). From writings to words, writing as struggle. College English. Vol. 49 No.4.