My language learning experience

By João Lucas

“Love is the law. Love under will.” – Aleister Crowley

Me, in manga.

My interest for English was pretty much based on hobbies, and the fact that, for me, it was an easy language to learn.

My first contact with English was at 5^th grade, then through Universitas, Núcleo de Inglês and MAI English schools. The schools were all pretty good ones, and I enjoyed my time there. I soon realized it was an easy language for me, and also soon realized its applications, both in hobbies and in the real world.

As for my hobbies, my first contact with English through hobbies was with video-games, especially RPG video-games:

Few such games are translated into Portuguese, and RPGs demand the use of language on a regular basis, so it stands to reason that my knowledge of English enhanced my hobbies greatly. But that’s not the only hobby I need English for: In the case of tabletop RPGs, while most are translated to Portuguese, I need English for support books that, while not needed, enhance the gaming experience. Most RPG original book editions are in English, such as this one:

Another hobby I use English for enjoying more is music. I am a bit old-fashioned in this department, with The Beatles being the kind of music I enjoy the most. English not only helped me understand the lyrics, the lyrics themselves taught me a bit of English – such as “going to” contracting to “gonna”, which I learned with “You’re gonna lose that girl”.

Finally, I enjoy reading in English. Some of my favorite humor authors are British or American, such as Douglas Adams, Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett. They wrote excellent books, many of which are not translated, or were not translated at the time I read them.

My relationship with English now is a very close one, and will be for a long time, since I intend to work with the language, preferably as a translator and, maybe, a web comic artist, also applying to a work in diplomacy later on, possibly. These works are somewhat safe ways for me to earn a good living, and it will be with the help of knowing the English language that I will achieve them. Even as a diplomat, if I make it through Rio Branco Institute, I will use English on a daily basis.

As such, English will always play a big role in my life, regardless of which path I choose.

“God not only plays dice with the universe, he sometimes throws them where they cannot be seen.” – Stephen Hawking

João Lucas Gontijo Fraga