The student becomes the master

 

Understanding and communicating in English was not something I anticipated learning during my youth, but it happened naturally. My initial contact with the English language came from my cousins, who were older and had already used computers to play games and interact with others via messaging apps, such as Windows Live Messenger and IRC. They also introduced me to video games, in which you had to communicate in English to progress. We did not have an Internet connection at home at that time, but I was eager to learn to play these games. Once we finally got access to the Internet, the Pandora’s box was opened – In a good way!  By unknowingly surrounding myself with the English language, even before I could understand it, I became conditioned to learn it. My poor English skills kept growing, as people on the internet corrected my grammar.

 

Interacting is really important skill when it comes to learning new languages. Once I started playing video games, I searched for cause-effect relationships to understand what was happening. I learned a few new words by just looking at the screen and interacting with my character in the video game RuneScape. By clicking on an item, and pressing ”drop”, I would leave my item on the ground for others to take. These kind of cause-effect relationships expanded my understanding of the English language. From there I moved on to other video games, in which you had to communicate with others by writing or speaking in voice chat. This interaction with other players made the transition to the real-world situations feel natural.

 

For me reading, listening and writing in a foreign language is the most important way to learn. Before the Internet I remember exploring our family computer for any kind of media, looking at default wallpapers, videos, and so on. Then I stumbled upon my father’s music library. It was filled with Finnish music from instrumental rock to pop classics. But there was one exception from that: Brother Louie by Modern Talking. It was something I had never heard before, and it became my absolute favorite song at that time. In 2005 I got my first MP3 player and my cousins helped me to set it up, filling it with foreign music they listened to. Then came YouTube, an infinite source of videos and music. I began watching short clips from the Simpsons and other TV-shows alike, which helped me understand the language even more.

 

In conclusion, learning a new language can happen naturally, if you surround yourself by it. Watch old TV shows, listen to foreign music, or even review something to improve your writing skills. All you need is patience and the motivation to push yourself towards your goals. Some might take longer learning paths, but by taking your time and continuing, you will succeed. I will continue to expand my vocabulary and use as much English as possible, interact with others and maybe someday even move to a foreign country.