My language learning journey
Hello everyone and welcome back to my newest
blog. This time I will be sharing mainly my English language learning journey. I
started learning English at school in 3rd grade and since that I have been
studying English yearly for approximately 12 years. Different languages have
always fascinated me so that is most likely the reason why I have always
enjoyed learning them at school and in my free time, and they have never been a
nuisance to me. I would not consider myself super passionate about languages,
but I see them as a great and useful hobby.
I have best learned foreign languages by learning
new words and increasing my vocabulary. That’s how I learned some English from
video games before I even started learning it at school. If you wish to learn
English or some other languages, I highly recommend trying some story-driven
video games with lots of dialogue. That’s where I have learned many new words over
the years, and occasionally still do. I believe the best way to learn any
language is to be exposed to it 24/7. I was living in Brighton for three months
in autumn 2023. I was on a language trip studying English every day which was organized
by EF, and I can confirm that back then my English was at its best.
During this English course I have practised
my vocabulary by reading texts and underlining the words which meanings I don’t
know. It has worked surprisingly well for me, and I have vastly increased my vocabulary.
My suggestion for the future students is to not be afraid to make mistakes, be
brave enough to speak and try to enlarge your vocabulary. This also applies to
every other language, not just English. Think about yourself as a little child
learning your first language. It did not matter how many mistakes you made
because the most important was that you were being understood and brave enough
to speak. Being able to communicate in different languages is an irreplaceable
skill in life and especially at work which will make you stand out in the
future.
My language learning journey continues
after this course in several ways. I doubt I will take any academic English
courses after I’m done with my studies, however, I shall develop my English
skills independently for now. I have new languages in the horizon too. I’m
currently learning Danish which is slightly easier for me since I have studied
Swedish for many years and it’s quite similar. I would also like to try
learning German later this year because many of my relatives know it and lately
it has really piqued my interest. Lastly, I want to thank you all for reading
my blog posts. It has been an educational and a new experience that I had never
done before.
Well written and thought-provoking points, especially your trip to Brighton piqued my interest. Learning different languages will always help you understand foreign cultures and grow as an individual. I will gladly follow what comes next!
VastaaPoistaThanks for sharing your language learning story! It’s really cool how you’ve combined formal study with fun, like playing story-driven video games. That’s such an effective and enjoyable way to pick up vocabulary. I also liked your advice about thinking like a child learning their first language. It’s a great reminder not to fear mistakes.
VastaaPoistaWhat a fantastic and motivating blog post! It's great to see how you've embraced language learning as both a hobby and a practical life skill. Your experiences, especially living in Brighton and learning through video games, show how immersive and fun language learning can be. I really liked your advice about not being afraid to make mistakes—it's such an important mindset for growth. Your enthusiasm for learning new languages like Danish and German is truly inspiring. Best of luck on your continued language journey, and thank you for sharing your story so openly!
VastaaPoista