Do you think learning English is important or necessary? English is an international language and its influence is incredible. People can express and exchange their own culture through English. If I speak with people in English, I can easily learn their cultures and identities which I find interesting and amazing. That is why my major is English, and there are two reasons why I’m interested in it.
First, I want to be able to express myself in English. When I started to speak English I felt very satisfied that people understood what I wanted to say. I also thought English was just a communication tool. However, I have a lot of international friends who I met in my university in Japan, so I don’t think that way anymore even though sometimes I feel frustrated that people understand what I say but not what I want to express. For example, some of my international friends say I’m shy because I cannot join their conversation. Also, my gesture, while I’m talking in English, makes me seem childish.
However, what they don’t know is that I struggle just to keep up with their English discourse which has many blending’s and slangs. I don’t know how to listen to the sound which I cannot recognize if it’s a word. I dislike it when I feel uncomfortable, frustrated and disappointed with my English skill while they are talking so fast and they are having so much fun. So, I want to express myself in English the same way I confidently use Japanese. English is not just a communication tool anymore for me, and I want people to understand my real identity.
Second, I want to express my sense of value and perspective through English. English makes me meet new people around the world and I learn huge things which are more than what I expected. It always makes me surprised and excited to learn English even though I face many difficulties. The people’s culture, identity, and perspective are ingrained in their own language, but it’s even better if we can share them to others in English. I like it when I speak with someone who is really different from me, and it makes me so eager to talk because I can find a new sense of value and perspective and it makes my life so wonderful.
By Student Kana