Essay 2-02b: Encounter with Languages

I think that learning language is difficult, especially foreign languages. Foreign languages differ widely from mother tongue in spoken language and written language. But mother tongue is also difficult. I think that speaking and writing decency is lifelong learning. Now, I will introduce my language learning experience. I have studied Japanese, Spanish and English.


First, I’ll tell you about my Japanese learning experience. Japanese is my mother tongue. I have heard Japanese since I was a baby. So I can speak and write it. Before I went to an elementary school, I learned “hiragana” and “katakana” from my mother. I liked reading picture books in my childhood. I have an elder sister. I wanted to read correctly like my sister, so I memorized with all my might. I like to watch “hiragana”. Hiragana has many curves. And I think that the shapes are so unique. In elementary school, I learned “kanji” at the first time. The impressive thing is the writing order of “kanji”. I learned from my teacher that we can write beautifully if we write the correct order of kanji. And I often read aloud. I read to parents every day, and my parents paint a graph of reading every day. I was happy in that time.


In junior high school, I learned Japanese classics at the first time. And, we recited them in my school. Recitation is difficult for me. But I owe it to the recitation that I remember famous phrases of Japanese classic. In high school, I study them deeply. I read many writing for examination. So I disliked reading at that time. But now, I enjoy Japanese. I like reading books very much. Once I begin to read, I can’t stop. So I often bring books into bathroom. When I read a book in a bathtub, I am so happy. Japanese is profound. I think my favorite kanguage is Japanese.


Second, I’ll tell you about my Spanish learning. I studied Spanish last year. I chose it as a second foreign language in university. I was interested in studying Spanish, because I liked Brazilian music. Brazilian music is sung in Portuguese. I knew Portuguese is alike Spanish. My favorite point of Spanish is the pronunciation. Spanish is difficult, but when I listen to the speaking and singing, I feel comfort. I have known Brazilian music since I was a junior high school student. I have a favorite Brazilian musician. He is Antônio Carlos Jobim and Caetano Veloso.


I think that Spanish has unique rhythms and sounds. I cannot take Spanish class this year due to other classes, but I want to study deeper and speak well, so I’m going to take Spanish class next year, and I want to go to Spain and Portugal someday.


Third, I’ll tell you about my English learning. I began to study English from a junior high school student. At first, I studied Alphabets. I found my then English note the other day. It seems easy, but I studied hard at that time. In high school, I studied for an examination. I memorized hardly many words. And I practiced reading English sentences speedy. I enjoyed studying with favorite textbooks. After I entered Kumamoto Gakuen University, I enjoy studying English more. It is because I can study English freely in University. I made this blog, and I write about many events. I can write officially home works and privately events in this blog. So I can enjoy in freely mind.


And I have four classes this year. They are Writing, Reading, Speaking and Listening. I like Writing and Reading. I especially like writing class the best. I like writing my diaries and essays in my blog, and I am poor at Speaking and Listening. In Japanese, I’m poor to speaking and listening. For example, I dislike speeches and memorizing after listening. On the other hand, I usually like reading books and writing compositions and essays. I think I have awareness of weak points about speaking and listening in all languages. I want to stop the awareness. If I stop the awareness, I can study English actively. English is so difficult for me. I cannot speak English well. I want to study English hard.


And I also want to challenge new language. I want to study Italian. It is because I like classical music and arts. The origin of classical music and arts is in Italian. So I study it.


I already explained my language learning. I have been studying Japanese for 20 years, and studied English for 9 years. Setting Spanish aside, I have been studying for long time in my life. In spite of that fact, I'm not good at Japanese and English. For example, I cannot speak Japanese honorific words and fluent English. I think afresh that learning language is difficult and lifelong learning. I want to have many interesting things, and I study in my whole life.

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