17. Anni, Fashion design, University of Art and Design Helsinki
Kaleidoscope reflection

Needs: I need to speak, write and understand english perfectly, if I really want to work in my field.
Skills:
I have to learn to write. I feel like there’s two different languages-speaking and writing -and somehow it’s difficult to put those together
Motivation:
As I said earlier, english is important language in my field. I have some bad memories but now I just want to learn.
Personality:
I’m not shy in normal life but when I should use english I am because I think I’m not good at this.
Learning background:
nowadays allmost everyone speak english very good, I mean in my age, which I don´t. And I have never thought of myself as a language learner before.

Susanna, University of Art and Design Helsinki
Kaleidoscope reflection

Needs:
I NEED MORE WORDS!: For example “art education” vocabulary for my studies and for working life in the future-I SHOULD BE ABLE TO SPEAK MORE FLUENTLY:I may be a bit shy/insecure and I’m afraid to use my english. I wish I could use my english so that I wouldn’t be so scared of mistakes I do. -I NEED TO FIND THE COURAGE TO OPEN MY MOUTH: It’s hard for me even in finnish.
Skills:
(I UNDERSTAND ALMOST EVERYTHING BUT I CAN\’T SAYVERY MUCH/ READING ACADEMIC TEXT BOOKS IS TERRIBLYSLOW/ LISTENING TO LYRICS HAS IMPROVED MYLANGUAGE/ MY VOCABULARY IS POOR)-I write quite willingly english text althought I do sometimes pretty much grammar mistakes-I understand spoken/written english quite much(thanks for movies/music/video games)-Still I\’m too afraid to use my english-I can\’t remember all the grammar or usefull words because I don\\\’t use my english regulary/effectively
Motivation:
I’m only studying languages because I have to: Languages are all over me. I need them at school, at work, at free time etc. For example the Internet is full of other languages, information and entertainment. It’s important to study languages so that you can use Internets materials effectively.(I’ve never been a good language learner)(Being good at languages is one way to be sure of getting a good job)My motivation has never been too high up. I’ve never been too good language learner and I’m afraid of making mistakes. I always underestimate myself/my skills and that’s why I’ve never got on well at the english lessons. Even thouhg I have some kind of attitude problem I think that I’m not totally hopeless case. It’s not disgusting to learn new things but I think that I don’t learn quickly enough and all the time I suppose that all my classmates/ friends are much better language speakers than I am. I’m sure if I focused my own interests I could learn better. I would like to also advance a bit more smoothly and take my own time.
Personality:
(I WORRY A LOT ABOUT MAKING MISTAKES/ I WANT TOHAVE EVERYTHING CLEAR IN MY HEAD BEFORE I SPEAK/I’M VERY SHY AND I DON’T LIKE TO SPEAK UP/ ICOMPARE MYSELF WITH OTHERS A LOT/ IT HELPS ME TOREMEMBER WORDS IF I SEE THE WORDS WRITTEN DOWN)I know that my personality is the biggest problem in the social situation/the classroom. My shy and insecure personality affects negative my learning. It’s a bit easier to use english with my good friends or in a very small group (If I know that the others aren’t too much better in english than I am)
Learning background:
The grammar and the most basic and important words I’ve leared repeating them again and again. It was a good way to learn new language when I was a bit younger and schoolbooks were easier. My first english teacher was really nice and good but still I thought from the very beginning that english is pretty difficult subject for me. Languages aren’t my speciality but I’ve always thought and known that they are importat and I’ll always need them. I wonder if the one reason why I don’t like studying languages is that I don’t learn very quickly. Sometimes I may just give up if the new text or grammar is too hard and so on I learn the new thing imperfect.(Note: I don’t always ask the teacher to helps me if I don’t understand some sentences or grammar. That’s stupid.) Some of my english teachers has been quite grim or ironical and that’s one reason too why I’m afraid of making mistakes. The best learning for me is to watch movies in english, write e-mail with english person and learn some basic important senteces by heart. I try to learn practical english so that I can cope with weekdays