Challenge to Master the English Language - Essay Example

 Challenge to Master the English Language I have faced the greatest challenge in my life within the past two years. The challenge I faced might seem frivolous to many, but it was one of the most difficult times in my life. My challenge was to master the English language. Two years ago, I came to the United States with no English skills. My first language was Arabic. When I landed on American soil two years ago, I could only read, write, and speak Arabic. I thought that English would be an easy language. I could not have been more wrong. When I arrived in the United States, I felt confident. I had come to this foreign land to receive an excellent education. In Saudi Arabia, I was a superior student. My family and I were sure I would be a superior student in the United States, despite the language barrier. My first obstacle came in customs. The heavy set official looked at my passport. He asked me something I could not make out. I lowly said ‘student’. He said something indistinguishable to another thinner man. The thinner man pulled me out of line. I was taken out of line to be searched. I cooperated patiently. (My family and friends had warned me in advanced about the strict American security after 9/11.) The two men searching me were suspicious at first. However, after making sure I did not carry any weapons and my passport was verified, they let me go to the baggage area. I had planned my trip down to the last detail. My new room would be ready for me. The problem became getting there. I went outside. The unfamiliar crescendo of English surrounded me in and outside of the airport. I did not know how to hail a cab. So I approached a waiting cab. When I got into the back, the cab driver said something unfamiliar. I showed him the name of my room on a piece of paper. He nodded and took off into traffic. When he dropped me off, I paid him a large bill. I hoped that had been enough, but he shook his head. The cab driver gave me back some of my money, minus his change. My new room was adequate. Several other Arabic speaking students roomed in the same building. I had brought my laptop computer from home, but would not have the Internet for several days. My cable would be turned on with the Internet, so I was stuck with several local channels for a few days. I decided to turn in. The bed was lumpy. I felt really sad my first day in the United States. I did not have to show up for college for a week, but my books had arrived. Knowing that my survival would depend on mastering English, I opened them the next morning. It was hard to comprehend. English comprised new characters, punctuation, and words. Even when looking up words in my Arabic/English dictionary, the English words were not clicking. I worked for awhile, then decided to take a break. The first new oddity that helped me learn my first words of English was the television. Although the English learned on television were only verbal, the verbal responses helped me communicate with the sea of English speaking individuals surrounding me. From television, I learned ‘yes’, ‘no’, ‘please’, and ‘thank you’. These four words were the only ones I uttered for the first two weeks in the United States. When I had come from Saudi Arabia, I transferred my credits in order to continue the pursuit of my Bachelor Degree. Learning English did not exactly stop that pursuit, but it did create obstacles. I had to take English courses in order to understand my other courses. I suddenly felt like a child instead of a college student. The basic building blocks of learning had to be learned all over again. I once again excelled at my studies, but I did not feel as confident. The first six months in the United States were not pleasant. I had never felt a deeper ache in my entire life. My woefully lacking English made me fill alone. I had made a few friends, but I could not tell if it were true friendship or not. Many Americans would try to get close because I was different. Not many had an interest in me, the person. Most Americans were either on a crusade against prejudice toward individuals from the Middle East, or on a mission to stop my imaginary terrorist activities. They had no interest in me. True friendship was unattainable for the first six months. Another ache in my soul was the loss of my family. I missed my brothers and sisters. The sage advice of my father could not be replaced in the United States. My mother’s kindness and concern could not be physically felt in the calls and letters from home. The familiar contours and sights of my home in Saudi Arabia could only be seen in my dreams. I was so homesick. There were times I felt like giving up and going home to be surrounded by familiar sights and comforts. The only thing that kept me going was the look of disappoint I knew would await me in Saudi Arabia. Because of the language gap, I started not only listening, but watching as well. Americans have different gestures than Saudi Arabians do. Once I started interpreting American gestures, I learned to differentiate friends from fakes. Professors, tutors, students, and others with true interest suddenly became evident, as did the ones with malicious intent. This allowed me to start forming bonds with more people. These bonds have helped me learn the English language as well as my book and other visual aids. The English program I have been using starts at Level 1. I had to learn from the basics. Learning the new alphabet was the hardest part. I immediately started picking up words as a whole. ‘Stop’ for example was an easy one. I picked that one up from the street signs. ‘McDonald’ was another one of my first site words. The site words were noticeable, but I did not understand that ‘M’ sounded out the mmmm sound. Once that clicked in my brain, I begin learning the letters and their sounds. Spoken English was also much easier learned than written English. I quickly learned how to communicate with my peers. However, translating my spoken words to paper was difficult. It even crept into my dreams. I would dream of speaking English, then flawlessly writing it down on paper. When I would go to read my perfect English, to my horror Arabic had replaced the words on my paper. I knew once I could translate my spoken English into written English the hurdle would be cleared. As I learned the language English, I also learned to appreciate American culture. The Fourth of July was a new holiday to be learned. I had not realized the meaning of the fireworks, until I learned about the War of Independence. Thanksgiving was a new tradition as well. I did not realize that the Pilgrims and Native Americans were friends in the beginning. Although the holidays I celebrated at home did not have the same importance to Americans, I learned that I could still celebrate them. This helped me feel less homesick. I felt acceptance from American society, but also felt free to practice my religion and culture as well. Another benefit came from my advancing English skills; I started to comprehend more in my other classes. In the beginning, I would have to translate my assignments to Arabic and then back to English. As I learned the language, I found my skills growing in my non-English classes. It no longer was a chore to research homework and assignments. I could actually take a class and learn. No longer did I have to sit mute in the back without comprehension. I could participate in class discussion with my new found English. Finally, the amazing happened. I began thinking in English. When around my American colleagues and professors, I could think in English. At first I was worried that I would forget Arabic. After being in class all day, I would rush home to call Saudi Arabia and use my Arabic skills. My Arabic skills have not faded. It is like a switch in my brain. If I am around individuals speaking English, I think in English. On the other hand, if I am around Arabic speaking friends or family, I think in Arabic. Occasionally I will use an Arabic word in an English sentence, while thinking or out loud. Normally this happens when I have not learned the English word yet. My professors and tutors have helped me on those occasions. My homesickness has abated, but I still miss my family. It is not as overwhelming as in the beginning, but I long for family interaction. Phone calls, occasional trips, and emails help me fight the longing, but the ache will always be there until I am reunited with my family. Still I would not trade this experience for anything in the world. I know that my education in the United States will help my family when I return from the United States. It took me almost a year to get to Level 6 in my English studies. I am far from fluent. Most of my papers have to be edited from tutors or friends. Still I do not find it as difficult as I did in the first six months in the United States. I feel that I can achieve higher levels in the English language. That hope has allowed me to grow individually and academically. Although the journey has been harder than I imagined, I am glad it was a journey undertaken. Read More