I had to learn English the best way imaginable ~ thrown into an American middle school, knowing zero English, and with my body going into puberty.
Sink or swim, baby.
Hahaha But I’m glad the stakes were so high, because only a year later (only a year!) I was conversationally fluent and moved from ESOL to the normal English-speaking courses.
I truly appreciate the English language. However: I love knowing Spanish. Mostly because it is such a poetic language. I love Spanish songs, and I love how we have different words for love.
Spanish words for Love
cariΓ±o is a sweet love, like the type you have for your best bud or your new puppy
te quiero mucho literally translates to “I want you very much,” but nope! That’s not really what it conveys. Te quiero is a love somewhere between cariΓ±o and te amo…
te amo is the BIG I love you
See? Very cool π
Spanish gives me many words for love, and it also gives me a good base to understand Italian, French, and Portuguese. They are the “Romance languages” because they come from Latin, the language spoken by the Western Roman Empire.
I love watching the post-fight interviews on MMA, because I can squee when I understand Portuguese and Italian!
English
However, I’m still immensely grateful for my horrific uh, I mean, great experience in middle school and learning English π Out of all the languages I’m learning, English is the most difficult. Why?
Because so many words have several meanings, all requiring context.
Are you right or turning right? Turning left or have you left the home?
Do you need to check something or write a check?
You can catch a bass or play the bass.
A bandage can be wound around a wound.
Does a farm produce produce?
Ack! π
I am so glad I don’t have to learn English as an adult!
So, I have a great appreciation for both Spanish and English. The more languages I pick up, the more I am fascinated by the way people express themselves. I absolutely love it. I recommend to anyone that they try to learn a new language.
See? I’m more than just ramen noodles π
μλ ! Bye! Ciao!
jarilissima
From teaching English learners, I can understand the frustration with this language. No matter what my studentsβ home language, there were always things about English that just do not make sense, even to the teacher! π Sometimes I would have to look at the class and say βYouβll just have to trust me on this…β π
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