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Language Learning as a Bridge to Cross-Cultural Understanding
Jennifer Watt
August 14, 2018
The second language I learned was telling timea concept that I grasped early in my life by associating it with the everyday rhythms of family activities: waking up for chores and feeding the horses, mealtimes, completing household tasks, bath-time and reading. The sudden realization as a young child that time could be visualized through moving pointers on an analog clock was quite perplexing to me. Compared to learning foundational skills like reading, writing, speaking, and thinking in another language, it felt akin to unlocking the pull door of understanding that eventually burst open with newfound comprehension.
My academic focus on Social and Cultural Anthropology during my college years stemmed from my inherent fascination with languages and multicultural diversity. My career goals have since expanded within this realm; seeking opportunities to unite individuals for a deeper cross-cultural exchange from both local and global perspectives. Living with families in various countries has greatly enhanced my ability to communicate and compreh the boundless potential of interactions across different cultures. Moreover, being proficient in multiple languages enabled me to forge mutual bonds of respect between myself and locals, fostering a willingness to share on both sides.
Language learning is an exhilarating process that involves creative mental development as one's brn adapts new pathways for expressing oneself beyond its first language proficiency. While figuring out how to articulate thoughts feels like unraveling a puzzle, the interpretation of others' communication in a different language can be either enlightening or challenging. Living in Nicaragua in 1991 taught me that Nicaraguans heavily rely on colloquialisms and visual metaphors in their speech - this experience left me pondering whether there were nuances lost in translation between our languages.
Jen, we didn't even need Spanish! We spoke Aymara! the team exclmed after a memorable night of connecting with local hosts through a combination of language pamphlets and smiles. Laughter and joy transced language barriers as a universal tool for engaging people on a deeper level - even when vocabulary was limited.
In , while there is always room for improvement in language skills, it's the effort put into learning that matters most alongside the opportunities provided to practice these newfound abilities.
Topics: EF staff, Language Learning, Peru
Jennifer Watt
Before joining EF in January 2012, Jennifer dedicated her career to teaching learners of all ages - from grade school through graduate studies. She specialized in experiential, environmental, and science education within various settings across the US and international destinations like Nicaragua, Botswana, Peru, and Ecuador. As a staunch advocate for immersive intercultural experiences as catalysts for personal growth and life-changing adventures, she has visited Peru over forty times.
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Cross cultural Understanding through Language Learning Unlocking the Power of Multilingual Communication Skills Journey of Learning to Tell Time in a Second Language Social and Cultural Anthropology Career Focus Immersive Experiences for Personal Growth Travel EFs Impact on Language Education and Travel