Tualatin High offers two world language programs, Spanish and French, allowing students to expand their knowledge in other languages. However, many people already come from homes that speak two, three or even more languages, often meaning that they have to complete English as a Second Language (ESL) to prove their proficiency. One of the most beautiful things about America is that diversity, and even though our country is officially English-speaking, being multilingual is a highly admired talent.
A barrier that is faced by both native English speakers and multilingual students is trying to incorporate a foreign tongue into your life. It’s difficult to make sense of all the nuances and comfortably apply them to your speech. Most of us might think that being surrounded by a language is our best shot at fluency, but that’s just not the case — especially if you’re not confident in your abilities and are thrown headfirst into having to use them.
That’s why I think that the best way to practice another language is not to get caught up in the logistics: it’s biting the bullet, using what you already know, facing your feelings of embarrassment when making mistakes and learning from real-world conditions.
Sure, the standard methods are suitable, but only to an extent. There’s taking classes, completing Duolingo challenges and checking out specialized books at the library. But at some point, reading “Learn such-and-such language in just four weeks” and repeating the phrase “Donde esta la biblioteca?” leaves you pretty stagnant in your progress. The truth is, trying to perfect these isolated words and sentence patterns without conversational context leaves you stuck within the same redundant boundaries. So how can we approach immersion in a way that actually helps people make headway in their efforts at learning?
For starters, don’t brush aside audible media. I’m talking about songs, T.V. shows and movies. These things provide you with more casual examples of how native speakers speak on a daily basis, while also giving you visual cues for more complicated things like tone and implication. Try watching a movie in your desired language with subtitles enabled in your primary language. That way, your brain is able to form connections between what you hear and what you see. Then, you can use that to your advantage and summon past instances in present exchanges.
Of course, approaching literature in an unfamiliar language sucks, but I cannot understate its importance. Books, magazines and newspapers expose you to so many different aspects of language. From morphology to syntax and entirely new vocabulary: you never know when dissecting one piece of writing can help you decode things you otherwise wouldn’t have understood without that prior knowledge.
Last, but certainly not least, put in the effort of actually utilizing your desired language. Yeah, duh, obviously. But I’m serious: stop avoiding discussions in fear that you can’t adequately participate. Stop substituting words that you’re nervous about using. Stop being a fly on the wall, and just start talking. The best feedback you’ll find is from live, unfiltered conversations, so surround yourself with people who are patient and willing to guide you through the unknown.
There is nothing shameful about not being the best at speaking in another language. Much of the world lives in dedication to their native tongue, so knowing even the basics of something foreign already sets you apart. Don’t be afraid of putting your skills to use, because experience is the only thing that will propel you to the next level!
