French Language
I've studied the French language for 13 years (since I was in kindergarten). Last year, I took the French Language & Composition AP exam and received a score of 5, demonstrating my competency in the language. Learning this language has been a significant endeavor, yet it has taught me so much about both French culture and myself. The ability to read and write in French has allowed me to understand French writing in its original form, which is often slightly different from the translated version. I can thus understand French news articles and literature in a way that is not possible without background knowledge of the country’s language and culture.
Gaining this new perspective on the world has also enabled me to understand how my own language and culture shape the way I view the world. Looking at American culture from the outside in, I am able to see how aspects of my worldview I take for granted are in fact shaped by the language and culture I have grown up with. For example, the French language has both a formal and an informal form of the word “you,” and learning when and how to use each form has caused me to be more aware of the different ways in which Americans demonstrate respect for one another. Learning a new language has been challenging, but the skills of perseverance and self-discipline I've developed have made it well worth the effort.
Gaining this new perspective on the world has also enabled me to understand how my own language and culture shape the way I view the world. Looking at American culture from the outside in, I am able to see how aspects of my worldview I take for granted are in fact shaped by the language and culture I have grown up with. For example, the French language has both a formal and an informal form of the word “you,” and learning when and how to use each form has caused me to be more aware of the different ways in which Americans demonstrate respect for one another. Learning a new language has been challenging, but the skills of perseverance and self-discipline I've developed have made it well worth the effort.
Learning Other Languages
At various points throughout my education, I’ve been fortunate enough to learn basic language skills in Japanese, Latin, Hindi, and now German. I was taught Japanese and Latin at school, and studied Hindi and German independently in preparation for my trips to India and Germany, respectively. I’ve found these language skills to be interesting and helpful, although I have a lot of room to develop in learning each of them. In the future, I would like to improve my speaking and writing abilities in these languages to build on my basic foundation. I am particularly interested in developing my fluency in Hindi and German, because I believe these languages really open doors to engaging with the fascinating, influential cultures of Germany and India.
If I were to choose an entirely new language to learn, it would likely be Arabic, because it is such an important language in the 21st century. There are so many misconceptions about the Middle East, and knowing one of the primary languages spoken there would be a fantastic way to engage with and develop a real understanding of the region.
If I were to choose an entirely new language to learn, it would likely be Arabic, because it is such an important language in the 21st century. There are so many misconceptions about the Middle East, and knowing one of the primary languages spoken there would be a fantastic way to engage with and develop a real understanding of the region.