Aprendiz 8:
(sexo masculino,
certificado de proficiência, 9o período de Letras)
My learning experience
As requested, this reports aims at expressing my own learning experience
as far as English as as foreign language is concerned.
To start with, it is of a vital importance to mention that I was always
very interested in learning a second language, especially English, since I was a
child. This desire to master
English was so uncontrollably strong that at the age of seven I started studying alone in my house with books from
the local library. Although I was unable to pronounce the words
I was capable of reading and writing.
One year later, at the age
of eight, I was able to understand all the phonemic symbols which helped me
improve or start pronouncing the words correctly. Basically, I spent about three
years of my life studying English alone.
My aptitude to learn English was so strong that my mother decided to
enroll me in a language school, at that time Curso Yes – Cultura Inglesa
today. Strange as it may
seem, I was one of the worst students in the class.
I found out that I was extremely shy and it was very difficult for me to
socialize. I do believe now that one of the reasons why I felt so intimidated
was the fact that the majority of my classmates had already studied English in
Curso Yes and they were all very rich and snobbish guys. I was a very
simple person and at the same time very frightened of being in a “big city”
alone, taking into consideration that my home town is Lagoa Dourada, much
smaller than São João. I was kind of a “ caipira em Nova York”.
I never felt at ease with this group and I couldn´t change to another
group because I had a busy
timetable and mainly because I depended on the time of the buses to go to my
house in Lagoa Dourada. Things got unbearable when a student humiliated me in
front of the whole class and the
teacher agreed with that. As a dire consequence I gave up the course.
Some years later I decided to return to Cultura Inglesa. At that time I
was an adolescent full of energy and self-confidence. There was nothing of that
“caipira em Nova York” anymore. I was different, taller, more
beautiful (I used to think I was beautiful at that time). I started studying
with people from my age and I liked the
teacher a lot. In fact I fell in love with her. I was the best student.
Besides, everything I learnt alone in my house made sense for me and I learnt
the language very fast. Before finishing the first book I received an European
in my house and I spoke fluent English with him.
I concluded all levels of English and I took and passed in all Cambridge
Exams: PET, FCE, CAE and CPE. I have the best memories of my teachers and I
still remember many of the lessons I was taught.
In brief my learning process was extremely profitable and not even for a second disturbing. I may shoulder the responsibility of my success as a speaker of English as a second language on my teachers, the way they delivered the lessons and of course on my dedication and interest.