StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

My Proficiency in English - Essay Example

Cite this document
Summary
Bilingual speakers have a great understanding of their new cultures and they are able to interact effectively with individuals from the foreign region.Speaking a different language enables an individual to gain communicative competence, therefore, emphasizing the role of circumstances under which language is used appropriately …
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER97.1% of users find it useful
My Proficiency in English
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "My Proficiency in English"

My Proficiency in English Bilingual speakers have a great understanding of their new cultures and they are able to interact effectively with individuals from the foreign region. Speaking a different language enables an individual to gain communicative competence, therefore, emphasizing the role of circumstances and context under which language is used appropriately and accurately. Speaking a second language equips individuals with important skills that are required in a new-culture environment. Learning a second language contributes towards learning cultural practices of the community that speaks the specific language. Without a hint of doubt, English is a fascinating language – a language that, in my view, everyone should learn. This is especially considering that across the world, it is commonly spoken and used as a national Language. I may not have my statistics right but I presume English is only second to French in terms of popularity in the International arena. With relative confidence, I may state that in every single country, you will find at least one person that speaks the Queen’s dialect. Like Tan states, “I am not a scholar of English or literature” and my aim is not to write about the popularity of English as a language spoken internationally but to narrate how I got to learn English. Apart from the occasional English words that I heard from a neighbor who was a white man, my first formal encounter with English was in primary school. In grade one, we started being introduced to the English alphabet and simple English words. We were also taught how to count in English. Slowly but surely, I got to learn how to scribble English words on the little books we were given, sometimes without understanding what the words meant. My enthusiasm grew with time about learning new things and I kept trying to read and recall whatever I had learnt. At 13 years of age, I started reading with relative ease. One of the books I first read was Superman. Like Alexie states, “Simple enough, I suppose. I cannot recall which particular Superman comic book I read, nor can I remember which villain he fought in that issue” (Alexie par. 1). Surprisingly, I realized that I understood whatever I read in the book. I realized once that the song the white man taught us was being taught to our superiors in class. It is then that I realized that we were learning the language of the white man. I knew then that I had overcome a barrier and was facing a world that previously was unknown to me. I could at least understand what the white man was saying to an extent. My interest in learning English continued to grow and I continued to seek and read more English books. I read several children’s books and articles including Learning to Read, an excerpt from The Autobiography of Malcolm X, and Mother Tongue by Amy Tan, and gradually learnt the English culture. Of course, I also learnt to read and write using the Chinese alphabet. By the time I was doing my eighth grade, my English was remarkable going by the comments that my teachers made. I often got rewards for scoring higher than my peers in English. This served as a good motivation to work even harder and learn more of the language. I credit my success in learning English at the elementary level to my long time English teacher and parents. Without the encouragement of these personalities, I really would not have learnt that much that I have today. In spite of the constraints that they experienced back then, my parents took it upon themselves to buy me the required textbooks for school and additional books to ensure that my ambition was actualized. I got to learn a lot of vocabularies in high school. Here, I met fellow enthusiasts some of whom were a challenge to me. They seemed to know the language more than I did. I learnt a lot from them and from my teachers. Learning literature in high school as part of the course work helped to a great extent. I encountered many words and corrected some errors I had been making in my speech and writing. I also learnt how to write simple compositions. I frequently participated in debates knowing at the back of my mind that it is through speaking and making mistakes that I would learn; as the saying goes, “experience is the best teacher”. My learning experience as a novice was not without any challenges. At first, reading without the help of a superior was almost impossible. Often, I had to stare at the writings without knowing what else to do. Indeed, sheer determination kept me going at such times. In some cases, I lacked English books to read. My reading then was limited to the notes that we were given in school. Some lessons were difficult to grasp. For example, it was a challenge knowing when to use the pronouns “he” and “she.” I kept mixing up these two and used one instead of the other. However, with time I got to grasp the concept. “I saw that the best thing I could do was get hold of a dictionary—to study, to learn some words” (smccd.net, par 6). As an International student, I appreciate how important English is to me. I wonder how difficult life would have been for me if I did not learn the language back then. I realize today that speaking a second language is very important especially to students who are not native English speakers, as it assists them in accommodating to dominant use of English language within learning institutions. Learning Standard English enables a student to reposition oneself in relation to heritage and community at large. Ability to speak a second language is accommodating to new ways with words and ensures that a student acquires substantial social and psychological dislocation within the institution. A student has to achieve a high level of consciousness regarding the potential of language in shaping and conveying information regarding social experience. Achievement of high literacy levels can be identified in the ability of an individual to socialize with other individuals in the society as well as reason in patterned ways. Individuals demonstrate their literacy levels in the ways they use language, that is, using the appropriate structure of genres, right lexicon as well as knowing how, when, and where talk should proceed. Reading and writing may be influenced by professions, nationality, ethnicity as well as disciplines. For example, in reading of literature, an individual may be required to infer goals, motives and states of characters based on own reading of the social world as well as from clues in the text. In my case, I have learnt the English language and continue to learn through daily experience the English culture, by socializing with different people and by reading books on various subjects but all written in English. In conclusion, I would state that I did a lot to learn English. Although it is my second language, I have mastered a lot of English vocabulary and wish to learn more of the language. As a student, I cannot underestimate how important it is to learn English. At the moment, almost all my lessons are taught in English. Without an understanding of the language, learning would be practically impossible for me. I am glad I put a lot of effort in learning the new language and continue to enjoy learning other subjects using English as a primary language in school. Today, I fondly remember my first encounter with English and chant this song without any doubt that I understand its words, “Baa, baa, black sheep, Have you any wool? Yes, sir, yes, sir, Three bags full: One for the master,: And one for the dame …” Works Cited Alexie, Sherman. The Joy of Reading, Critical Thniking: Superman and Me. 1998. Web. 9 Sept. 2012. http://articles.latimes.com/1998/apr/19/books/bk-42979 smccd.net. Learning to Read excerpt from The Autobiography of Malcolm X. N.d. Web. 9 Sept. 2012. http://www.smccd.net/accounts/bellr/ReaderLearningtoRead.htm Tan, Amy. Mother Tongue. N.d. Web. 9 Sept. 2012. http://teachers.sduhsd.k12.ca.us/mcunningham/grapes/mother%20tounge.pdf Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“My Proficiency in English Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words”, n.d.)
My Proficiency in English Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words. Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/other/1401123-my-proficiency-in-english
(My Proficiency in English Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 Words)
My Proficiency in English Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 Words. https://studentshare.org/other/1401123-my-proficiency-in-english.
“My Proficiency in English Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 Words”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/other/1401123-my-proficiency-in-english.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF My Proficiency in English

Admission Acceptance

My Proficiency in English was barely passable.... I had to work harder than most of my peers in order to keep up in my schoolwork, not because I was not smart enough, but because everything was new and different and I had to become fluent in english.... Not only did I have difficulty expressing myself, I found it difficult, as well, to understand spoken english here.... I had left behind in my homeland, everything that seemed normal and natural to me and found myself in a completely alien culture....
2 Pages (500 words) Essay

Factors Affecting the Oral Communication Assessment in ESL Students

One is expected to exhibit proficiency in the oral communication such that it is one of the most common forms of interaction.... However, they will not be accepted within these universities unless they have passed the english proficiency level that the university requires of them.... hellip; Therefore, ESL students try their best to become proficient in the english language. Second language learners are doing their best not only to learn the english language but to become proficient with it at the same time....
16 Pages (4000 words) Essay

The Inclusion of Limited English-Proficient Students in Floridas K-12 Content Classrooms

A mandated agreement between League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) and the Department of Education (DOE) was made to identify and monitor the inclusion of limited english proficient (LEP) students and its staff development in Florida.... The Inclusion of Limited english-Proficient Students in Florida's K-12 Content ClassroomsSummaryA mandated agreement between League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) and the Department of Education (DOE) was made to identify and monitor the inclusion of limited english proficient (LEP) students and its staff development in Florida....
2 Pages (500 words) Essay

Career as a Competent Pharmacist

I started to make use of every possible opportunity to improve My Proficiency in English and the subjects I studied.... I found it very difficult to learn english at the late childhood.... Even though my brothers had grown up in America, my family circumstances did not favor my migration to America at an earlier age.... I could not even see my parents for the twelve years during which they could not afford to bring me here....
2 Pages (500 words) Personal Statement

Letter Of Appeal

I am writing regarding the questions that have lately been raised regarding my academic performance, in order to make you aware of the underlying reasons behind these issues.... I hope that you will take this information into account in the course of making any decisions on the… As you will no doubt be aware, I am originally from Saudi Arabia, and this is the first time I have been abroad for an extended period of time, and away from my family group and the support they can offer....
2 Pages (500 words) Personal Statement

Joining Cornell University

I had to join English classes to enhance My Proficiency in English language.... He had to join English classes to enhance his proficiency in english language.... I can now write and speak fluently in english.... In joining Cornell University for a major in Biology, I aim at finishing the Introductory Biology Cluster that is a pre requisite in my medical career (Cornell University 1).... Indeed, I will regularly monitor my progress in the biology major to ensure that I attain good grades that will help me to achieve my academic and personal objectives....
2 Pages (500 words) Admission/Application Essay

Oral Communication Assessment in ESL Students

One is expected to exhibit proficiency in oral communication such that it is one of the most common forms of interaction.... Therefore, the use of the english language in oral communication must be given as much attention that is necessary especially among english as a second language (ESL) learners.... Therefore, the use of the english language in oral communication must be given as much attention that is necessary especially among english as a second language (ESL) learners....
18 Pages (4500 words) Research Proposal

Expression of Interest

Words: 42 Characters: 260 … However, my opinion is, this is not the case because some countries form the UAE took root in contemporary arts as from the early 90s.... The paper "Expression of Interest" discusses contemporary art in the countries.... nbsp;It is generally believed that contemporary art in the United Arab Emirates has taken too long to get to awaken....
6 Pages (1500 words) Personal Statement
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us