i have an assignment to complete about the acquisition of the english language by mirgant groups.
Your answers to a few questions will be highly appreciated..
Please answer if english is not your first language or if you migrated from a non-english speaking country to an english speaking country.
1. How old were you when you first learnt English and where?
2. What struggles/difficulties did you encounter because English was not your first language?
3. What cultural barriers did you experience when learning English?
4. How did you learn English and what personal strategies did you take to improve?
5. Do you think there is a difference between your spoken and written English skills? If so, what?
6. Now that you do know English, do you think it has changed they way you use your native tongue? If so, how?
Thankyou in advance
Just to help you with your assignment, I asked these questions to a family member(since English was my 1st language). Hope it helps…and remember, i’m writing what they say.lol!
1. I was school age, maybe 16, and I learned in Japan through the ppl in the service.(meaning navy, army,etc.)
2. It was hard to communicate at first, and I felt foolish trying.
Many ppl did not understand me, and children would sometimes laugh. I almost gave up.
3. I met a military man, who I later married, but I was not accepted into his family right away. His family thought I wanted a green card only, but later they did accept me. When he left the military, after having 2 children, we moved to his hometown in Georgia, where I again was discriminated against because of my skin.
4. I learned by listening to the military personnel, and by watching ameriacan television. Then when I knew a couple of words, I would study with tutors to help me more. It was a long and difficult journey.
5. I can speak English very well, and read it also well, but when I write it, sometimes I am confused. My spelling and grammar are not perfect in written communications.
6. Yes, because since being in this country, I speak English. There are not many Japanese here that I know, and I choose to respect this language. Japanese is only used in a JApanese store, or in my country. I respect this language, and the ppl here, that is why I choose to speak English. But if you speak to me in JApanese, then I will respond in the same. Otherwise, I will respect this country!
