► Language Does Matter
5/04/2009
Could languages change one's personality? Trust me, yes. I've been trying so hard to conquer the language problem since I came to the U.S. For non-English speakers, even you can read well in English, it doesn't mean you could speak or listen well; for international "graduate" students, when you've started to speak or listen much better than before, it's time to graduate from school and go BACK home!!!(Come on! College students at least have 4-years to find the way out.) Here is the problem, if you couldn't express yourself appropriately, how is it possible for forieners to really immerse into this culture and learn from it?
"It's really hard for me to make friends in English. It's not ME! I can't even express myself in my style." Once my Taiwanese friend in the U.S told me the reason why he didn't want to or try to make friends with people in English. I have heard once before that "To have another language is to possess a second soul." I know not too much people have ever experienced the issue of switching languages do change your personality things, but as an advertising school student, let me share some feelings of mine with you, no matter you are natives or foreigners, trust me, language does matter.
08/20/2007, I remember clearly this was the date I came to the U.S, and it's also the date I stared to become like a person who I didn't even know who I am. Every time when I was trying to speak, I MUST practice in mind first or write a note holding in my hand in advance, just in order to keep conversation smoothly or fluently. Regardless of how good I used to be, in the U.S I was like an elementary school student, making joke in front of crowd became as normal as usual.
It was then I came to the ADV Department, the fewest international students' major in our school. Damn!!! Nobody told me that the reason there are fewest international students here is because of we need to present everything, everyday in each of our classes, which certainly hang over us. And as an AP, speaking is like the only thing to do in the class, no mention presentation , Power Point and Keynote are our best friends.
But after going through lots of awkward silence or communication problem, I realize that the best way to conquer language is to think naturalness, not perfection. It's like a curse that as long as I wrote a note or prefect speech and practice the rehearsal several times before on the stage, I screwed out without doubt. But only if I present something more like a conversation, I work things out.
It doesn't mean that "Right Way" is not good thing to do. But sometimes either you or me definitely think the same way that expressing oneself straightforwardly might be the best way to make people listen.
Now, I may unconsciously change my personality when I switch languages. However, I've got the idea that even we always concern the difference between cultures and languages, the most important thing is still to do thing not intentionally. Time goes by, you will find yourself INTO this culture and languages. Afterward, you will have much more advantages than others, because you know how to put yourself into currency.
I am still not good in word, at least this is true me.
"It's really hard for me to make friends in English. It's not ME! I can't even express myself in my style." Once my Taiwanese friend in the U.S told me the reason why he didn't want to or try to make friends with people in English. I have heard once before that "To have another language is to possess a second soul." I know not too much people have ever experienced the issue of switching languages do change your personality things, but as an advertising school student, let me share some feelings of mine with you, no matter you are natives or foreigners, trust me, language does matter.
08/20/2007, I remember clearly this was the date I came to the U.S, and it's also the date I stared to become like a person who I didn't even know who I am. Every time when I was trying to speak, I MUST practice in mind first or write a note holding in my hand in advance, just in order to keep conversation smoothly or fluently. Regardless of how good I used to be, in the U.S I was like an elementary school student, making joke in front of crowd became as normal as usual.
It was then I came to the ADV Department, the fewest international students' major in our school. Damn!!! Nobody told me that the reason there are fewest international students here is because of we need to present everything, everyday in each of our classes, which certainly hang over us. And as an AP, speaking is like the only thing to do in the class, no mention presentation , Power Point and Keynote are our best friends.
But after going through lots of awkward silence or communication problem, I realize that the best way to conquer language is to think naturalness, not perfection. It's like a curse that as long as I wrote a note or prefect speech and practice the rehearsal several times before on the stage, I screwed out without doubt. But only if I present something more like a conversation, I work things out.
It doesn't mean that "Right Way" is not good thing to do. But sometimes either you or me definitely think the same way that expressing oneself straightforwardly might be the best way to make people listen.
Now, I may unconsciously change my personality when I switch languages. However, I've got the idea that even we always concern the difference between cultures and languages, the most important thing is still to do thing not intentionally. Time goes by, you will find yourself INTO this culture and languages. Afterward, you will have much more advantages than others, because you know how to put yourself into currency.
I am still not good in word, at least this is true me.
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