Spring Break
Revved Up: Keeping up your foreign language chops
Issue date: 9/23/08 Section: Opinion
Google "language clubs" to find other people who like to speak the language you want to retain. Often these groups will meet at cafes and coffee shops. Le Madeleine on Mockingbird, for instance, hosts a French language enthusiast's group for anyone who wants to practice their French. Perkins School of Theology held a lunch for people interested in practicing their Spanish with native speakers. Snow Pea Chinese Restaurant on Abrams Rd. is a wonderful place to practice your Mandarin as well.
Perhaps the best way to keep up your language skills is by making friends with international students who speak your language of interest. Many times they are willing to practice with you if you help them with their English. SMU has a strong Multicultural Student Affairs program. They are always looking for people to be English conversation partners. By intentionally practicing your English, you will give more attention to language mechanics which will help you be able to pick up your foreign language grammar book and review.
The biggest deterrent against foreign language acquisition and retention is the student's fear of looking like a fool. The secret to keeping your language chops is remembering that the fool is the one who is too prideful to make mistakes. Native speakers make mistakes in their own languages everyday. What makes students think they won't do the same? The first language you learn is the hardest. We have forgotten about the crying and the tantrums. So next time you struggle with remembering how to conjugate "be" verbs, just remember that you've done the learning a foreign language thing once before. You can do it again.
Richard Newton is a student at the Perkins School of Theology. He can be reached for comment at rwhnewton@gmail.com.
Perhaps the best way to keep up your language skills is by making friends with international students who speak your language of interest. Many times they are willing to practice with you if you help them with their English. SMU has a strong Multicultural Student Affairs program. They are always looking for people to be English conversation partners. By intentionally practicing your English, you will give more attention to language mechanics which will help you be able to pick up your foreign language grammar book and review.
The biggest deterrent against foreign language acquisition and retention is the student's fear of looking like a fool. The secret to keeping your language chops is remembering that the fool is the one who is too prideful to make mistakes. Native speakers make mistakes in their own languages everyday. What makes students think they won't do the same? The first language you learn is the hardest. We have forgotten about the crying and the tantrums. So next time you struggle with remembering how to conjugate "be" verbs, just remember that you've done the learning a foreign language thing once before. You can do it again.
Richard Newton is a student at the Perkins School of Theology. He can be reached for comment at rwhnewton@gmail.com.
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