Learning a Second Language

 

          Learning a new language is not an easy process. It is complicated, and it requires a great deal of patience and diligence. Once one starts learning a new language, there must be some strategies to be taken into consideration. First, all languages consists of vocabulary and grammar. They are the core of the learning process. Vocabulary in the process of acquiring a language is like money. You earn it with your conscious effort, or you get it as a gift. To show how important vocabulary is, imagine that you enter a hypermarket such as WalMart. If you have a lot of money, you can buy whatever you want; on the other hand, if you are broke, you will not be able to purchase any item. The second element of acquiring a new language is concerned with grammar. If vocabulary, as previously mentioned, is money, grammar can similarly be the right investment of that money. You might lose your money if you do not invest it in the proper way. Grammar, in this case, defines the structures that organize your earnings.

           Learning a language can take place consciously or unconsciously. In a conscious learning of a new language, you are learning with paying your fullest attention to what is given to you. For instance, if you learn a language at school, you are aware of your learning; in other words, you know what you are taught. This can be beneficial when you learn the grammar of the target language. In an unconscious learning, you acquire the language without being aware of the learning process. A good example to clarify it is when you read a story or listen to the media. You are looking for amusement or for news in the first place; however, you are learning new vocabulary and structures at the same time. This type of learning is subtle and effective since it involves learning the lexical items and grammatical structures all together. You get the items in context, and that is the ultimate goal of learning any language.

           These strategies are not novel, and I am suer that we all realize the cruciality of learning the vocabulary and grammar of any new language. However, it is worth mentioning that language learning is a great field of study, and there are many theories that investigate how we acquire a language. Those theories are not perfect by themselves; in other words, there is not a single and perfect theory which offer a full explanation of how every language learner acquires the language. The theories of language acquisitions focus on certain aspects of the language is acquired. In some cases, a theory such as the Behaviorist can successfully trace, attribute, and demonstrate language acquisition. In other cases, the Behaviorist approach fails, and the Innateness approach provides a more logical explanation to the process of acquiring the new language.

           The reason why I mention the existence of such theories is to emphasize the fact that theories and scholars differ when it comes to explaining language acquisition. The same thing applies for language learners. Learner are disparate; but the only thing they have in common is motivation. The accuracy of the language acquired is dependent on the motivation element. When the learner wants to be native-like, he normally exerts more effort to learn new vocabulary and grammatical structures. He does not have any shyness of using what he has just learnt; he will endeavor to pick up the pronunciation of the native speakers, and he will seek corrections when he doubts a misuse of any element of the language. Other learners, on the other hand, learn the language because it can facilitate a certain privilege which cannot be gained without learning the language. This type of learners will only seek the minimal knowledge that entitles them to obtain such a benefit.

           To sum up, learning a second language is fascinating in terms of acquiring the language or as a field of a study. As to me, I am learning a second language and will probably study language acquisition for my masters. As to you, enjoy your learning and have the utmost of it.

Freedom or Harassment?

          We do not value anything as much as we value freedom; it is really the thing that fulfills all the deep desires defining who we are and what we want. The more freedom granted to a society, the more developed and prosperous that society is likely to become. Individually speaking, we can notice that we are likely to achieve anything that we willingly choose; on the contrary, when we are forced to do what we do not genuinely believe in, we usually fail to accomplish the required tasks. Nevertheless, that freedom must be restricted; we actually have no absolute freedom. In fact, total freedom exists only in the forests. 

          Freedom of speech is a kind of freedom that we really enjoy. We have the freedom to discuss any topic of our choice, to debate it, and to elaborate on it. We proudly enjoy the freedom of choosing arguments, formulating rules governing our discussions, and selecting the media through which arguments are presented. 

          The diversity of opinions about any given topic is the core of the freedom we relish; otherwise, our opinions would be of less value if everyone had the very point of view that we have. What we argue for or against is a controversial issue. You have your opinions on a certain topic, and I have my own standpoint. You present your argument, and I present mine; your wits, thoughts, and persuasive tactics are against mine. We meet, sit, and have our discussion. I know, for sure, that you want me to be convinced of your point of view, and my intentions are identically similar, to persuade you of what I believe in. Later, we smile, shake hands, and depart; you still have your own opinions, and I remain committed to my beliefs. 

          This is the lovely scenario that all kinds of disagreements should follow; if not, other uncivilized methods would occur. When we resort to barbarous means to settle our difference in opinions, freedom is considered dead. It no longer exists; what prevails then is an ugly, backward, and mean dictatorship. 

         The previous part was to illustrate what we should have to coexist together regardless of our disagreement. Now, I need to elaborate on the question of how much freedom is required to encompass all opinions; what are the limits, if any, on our freely expressing ideas and thoughts? How can we achieve the joy of experiencing freedom? When is my opinion considered offensive and no longer a manifestation of thought? 

          From my perspective, limits promote freedom. When we set out limits, we acknowledge the right for everyone of us to exist. We do not live alone on this planet; we live together, and the word “together” signifies the diversity that we should really appreciate. Everything around us in this wide world is diverse, and we would not bear life, had the world been but one thing. The whole world calls for such variation. 

         Sometimes, however, some people tend to neglect all these values to which we all agree. In a recent case, Albert Snyder is suing the Hillsboro Baptist Church. This case is all about the vague boundary that separates the freedom of speech as a right from denigration. Whether I agree with the Church or Snyder is not the issue discussed here; the question is whether the demonstration which the Church held at the Snyder's funeral of his son belongs to freedom of speech or denigration. To perceive the situation fully, we need to put ourselves in Snyder's shoes. The man is in his son's funeral; many loud cries such as “pray for more dead soldiers,” “thank God for 9/11,” “fangs die, God laughs.” 

          These signs evoke disgust and hatred to the nation which has bestowed freedom of speech upon them. Always showing up at similar funerals, they think those phrases they shout would change the world. They are not; indeed, those hateful shouts would make people sympathize with the families of the dead and hate the Church. 

        Frankly, I can see no difference between this Church and AlQaeda. The claims, the hateful expressions, and the dwelling upon the people's distress are the same. If they are to protest against particular issues, they should address their complaints and concerns to the appropriate authority. Showing up in funerals to harass the families, who have nothing to do with whatever that member has chosen for himself or herself, is not sane in any way. 

          What they are doing is nothing but adding insult to injury; that can never be the freedom of speech that is granted by the First Amendment of the Constitution.

4. Conclusion to the Previous Three Posts

 

          I think I can really appreciate the differences between my society and the American society regarding the attitudes towards the elder. I can conclude these posts by asserting that there is a respect and honor for the elders in my society and in the American society. Both societies have different view of what respect entitles. The values of the society determine the meaning of those values.

           The elder themselves are different in their expectations of the young. Some would like to be among their sons and daughters; others would like to join their fellows in a dormitory.

          In brief, the value of respecting the elder is established among the people of both societies; however, it has different manifestations in each one.

3. Cultural Differences towards Elders

          Having talked about the my observations on the attitudes of the young towards the elder, I would like to shed some light on the differences in both cultures concerning this topic. Culturally speaking, there is a great deal of difference towards the elder in my society and in the American society.

           One major difference is about how to treat the elder. In my society, everyone feels obliged, religiously and socially, to provide the utmost help he\she can offer to the elder. We identify treating the elder to be serving them and let them do any thing as much as possible. With this definition, we admit their favors of helping us when we needed help as children. The elder, on the other hand, expect such a help since they have sacrificed a lot. In terms of family, everyone should take care of his\her father and mother. Parents must not kept in any place other than within the family. It would be so shocking if someone leaves any of his parents for any other agency, whether governmental or private. It is seen as being loyal to those who have been doing you favors all the time.

           On the contrary, the elder in United States, as I see it, are more self-reliant than in my country. They are proud of themselves; and they would refuse someone to help. In one of my visits to an H.E.B. Store, I saw a father with impaired mobility along with his son. When the father was descending from the car and getting on his wheelchair, he missed it and fell to the ground. His son came at the same moment to help, but the father refused that help. He took the wheelchair again, and got on it. Then they went into the store. The point that I want to emphasize is that the father depends on himself and refuses any kind of help. In terms of family, parents have been useful all the time; and they cannot imagine being so idle and useless.

2. Are the Elder Respected in the United States?

 

          In my first post, I talked a little about how we show our honor and respect to our elders. Though what I mentioned in my previous post was undoubtedly right, I think it is not the only way to show respect; and indeed, it might have its shortcomings as well. I believe the American shave their own way of showing respect to their elders. Unfortunately, the movies and mass media have been portraying a dark picture of how elders are treated by the young. I came from my country with that gloomy picture in my mind. However, it turned out what was conveyed through movies and media are exaggerated to a great extent.

           While I was sitting in the terminal of Frankfort Airport, I had my first chance to observe people; and from the accent with witch they spoke, I knew they were form the United States. An old woman and her teenager son sat in front of me. They talked almost all the time; the son went to a close cafeteria and brought them breakfast. When it was announced that our next flight to Houston would take off soon, he carried his bag and his mother's as well. All of the time, he spoke so politely with his mother. I did not notice the slightest hint that this son was bothered by his mother presence.

           This incident, in particular, began to erase the old melancholy picture and to draw another cheerful one. I arrived in Houston; and there was a long line of people waiting to get through the Customs. The elders were given special care at the air port by every single employee, no matter what his job was. Since my arrival, I have had a different impression of how elders are respected. The picture has become much more optimistic.

1. Attitudes towards Elders

          In the culture wherefrom I come, the elders are highly respectable. Everyone is there to provide help at any moment. No matter what relationship you have to the old, you are obliged to respect them and to treat them with the utmost care. It is not Plato's Republic; it is the truth which can be observed on the streets and, more obvious, at homes.

           I still remember that I have never said the word “NO” to my father or my mother; neither have I felt reluctant to comply with their orders, even though if these orders are against my will. I can still remember how kids in different occasions rush to bring their fathers' shoes and put then humbly in front of their foot to wear. I did see more than once, while I was doing some governmental business, the employees give the priority to the old no matter what the number of people awaiting for him. Those who waited said: “good for you; may God reward you with good.” Not a slightest look of anger at the employee was observed.What I mention here is not because of the highly commendable ethics that young persons possess; it is rather attributed to what they have noticed in the society since they were children.

           I will leave you now with this picture of a young man carrying his old father. The pictures was taken in Mecca last year. Cars and buses were everywhere, but he insisted on doing so. When he was asked by a local newspaper's reporter about it, he replied: “my father carried me with great pleasure when I was a kid. It is now the time to return the favor. All that I want is the reward from God.”

Blackberry and iPhone

Here is a little video clip about the users of the Blackberry and iPhone. Watch and comment.