English language is very
foreign to me who grown up in a household where almost everyone
converse in Hokkien. It was fortunate that my mother had decided to
send me to a kindergarten, St.Anne, where I first learnt to write
basic alphabets and count digits in English. More importantly, I
could never forget how I enjoy the singing session with my classmates
every afternoon. Though I have struggled to sing every single words
in the song, it was this experience that had truly remove the
mysterious veil on English language. Furthermore, it gave me the
courage to enrol myself in English related competitions in primary
school, such as storytelling, stage drama and singing.
Learning
a language entails the practice of speaking, listening, writing and
reading. In secondary school, I have little problems with completing
my written assignment because of my daily reading of the English
newspaper as well as paying attention to global happenings on the
Internet. I was also deeply engrossed in reading fiction and
non-fiction books whenever I am free;consequently, I did my managed
to acquired solid grasp on vocabularies tested in school. However,
speaking has always been my Achilles’s heel, having its root from
my lack of exposure to public speaking and exposure to English
speaking
medium.
Later in senior year, I had
decided to take the initiative to improve on speaking and listening
skill. Since I was very interested in science and technology, I find
videos of TED(Technology, Education and Design) talks very inspiring;
non-native English speakers from different walks of life, education
background and cultures could converse their ideas with such clarity
in English. Therefore, I dedicated a few hours everyday to watch
minute details of speakers of great calibre such as Sir Ken Robinson,
Bill Clinton and Malcolm Gladwell. It dawned upon me that one could
improve his speech by listening to good speeches. It did not stop
here, I later volunteered to participate in a UNESCO Youth Peace
Ambassador Workshop where I had the opportunity to present my idea of
peace and share it with my fellow brothers and sisters from other
participating countries.
English language is a truly
fascinating language that allows me to connect with other people from
around the world, and till today I still find my style constantly
learning beautiful discoveries about the language. This is my story,
what about yours ?
