Studying languages with different cultures

I had never studied German language before. Yet, the language was not the most interesting part of the classes I took at Lappeenranta University of Technology. The classes were held together with all the international students, which I thought was such a great idea. Diverse cultures and the international atmosphere must bring more content to the learning experience, I thought. And indeed, it really did. Getting to know different people from all over the world while learning a new language together was really something. However, there are some challenges when you are learning something new with people from different backgrounds. 

What I learned right away in the first class was that Finnish people and southern cultures have a very different learning patterns. Compared to the Finns, who prefer written exams and only speak the language when they know they are using the grammar correctly, many of the foreign people I met thought it was ok to make mistakes as long as you are trying to speak. During our conversational tasks I learned a lot from being more spontaneous and just trying to do your best, even when you don’t know if you are doing it right. I think it is very good to try to get it correct and perhaps it can even pay off when learning a language, but being brave enough to make mistakes is what you can learn a lot from too.

Please don’t get me wrong – I am not saying either way of thinking is not good. I think there’s a silver lining in both, whether you are trying to reach the perfect grammar or learn by having fun with the language. However, I think we can learn a lot from other people and having different cultures in class definitely diversifies our own way of thinking. It is an awesome way also to get to know all the foreign people in our university, which we unfortunately are not encouraged to do at other events. Learning something together is an awesome way to get to know one another. So please, continue mixing the classes, Language Centre! How do you guys feel, do you like learning languages with people from different backgrounds? Have you learned something new from different cultures? 

Text: A student of Independent Study in English course

English in my life

English language has been a part of my life ever since my childhood, first through watching television series and movies, and more on from the early youth, when listening to music and reading English language news and articles became an important part of my life.

However, although I had a good understanding of both the spoken and written English, the problem was in the writing, especially with the grammar aspect. This had it remarks to the English grade, which was below the average during my high school years. Part of which was caused by my dyslexia, which had its effect on writing in particular. From this basis, the next step, which I did regarding my studies, would not sound like the most likely one.

I decided to apply to a bachelor program, which was taught in English language. In the beginning of my bachelor studies I struggled rather a lot, but I had a strong belief that I can manage, if I just keep using the language and that way trying to improve my skills. After a few months of using English daily, and a few writing assignments later, it got gradually better.

Now, years later and using, during most days, more English than Finnish and having written hundreds of pages in English, I feel that I have reached a stage where I can manage with my language skills pretty much in every situation. However, you never can be perfect and there is always room to improve, like probably this text contains some misspelling. In that case, you just try to get as much feedback as possible and adjust your future work accordingly. This is a way, which I have noticed to be the most efficient way to learn for me. I guess that you can call it “learning by doing” approach. Besides this, also reading helped me to improve my writing, for example by providing examples of text structures which I have included in my own writing style.

To conclude, you never can be perfect with certain ability and life is full of learning possibilities. Sometimes you just need to take the leap of faith that you can manage with the imperfect skills you already have, rather than just wait to achieve the perfect skills. If I have done it, you can do it also - just use your language skills whenever possible. Open Your Mouth! 

Text: Ville Myllynpää, a student of Independent Study in English course

Can you learn a new language as an adult? or What is “guapa”?

I have studied Spanish about one year as an adult in Helsinki Summer University (Spanish 1 and 2). But of course that wasn’t enough.

I bought paper flash-cards to help memorize simple words. I wish I would have known grizzle.com. Magazine Hola was a source of a lot interesting words like pregnant and divorce.  Sadly El País was too difficult for me.

I enjoy learning new languages by music. I went to Youtube and found Shakira’s music video “No” with lyrics. Lovely and sad song. After that I watched Nelly Furtados’s “Manos Al Aire” .Today I would concentrate on “Noche Y De Dia” by Enriques Iglesias. I sang along even though I don’t have any kind of singing voice.

I tried really hard to follow the Spanish soap opera “Aqua no hay quien viva”. It wasn’t my favourite. I loved “Los Serrano”. It was so warm and friendly series.

After learning Spanish for a year, we travelled in our summer holiday to Spain into a tiny village where nobody spoke English. As an added bonus everything was cheap in that picturesque village.

If Spanish words failed me there a sign-language helped. I didn’t know how lousy I was, but we bought the bus tickets, food and got service in the restaurants.

One warm and sunny day an old Spanish man walked past us while we waited at the bus stop. He said to us a lot of mumbo-jumbo that I missed. I got one word “guapa”. I finally remembered that one word after thinking about it hard for sixty seconds. He was complimenting us! Well, we don’t look like Marilyn, but I felt like a winner of one million dollar.

Not everything went over so smoothly. Do you know what sepia means in a restaurant list?. Well we found out in a hard way. We also ordered some kind of melon as dessert to a 10-year old kid. We didn’t know that it included booze. Luckily the waiter kindly told this to us in Spanish, when melon arrived to the table. We as responsible adults took care of the booze. And the kid got her melon dessert.

Back to our original question: Can you as an adult learn a new language? If I can, so can you.

Text: Sointu Niinikoski-Perä, a student of Independent  Study in English course