Do you know your passion?
or My path to Langventure
For me, it took almost 20 years to figure out mine. Nevermind that it was always in front of me, my eyes turning shiny at every encounter, I'd dedicate all my free time to it, —yet, it never dawned on me to call it my passion. And then, Life basically put me face to face with it so that I couldn't not be aware anymore could and finally recognize: there it is, my passion —foreign languages!
I was born in Russia and lived there up until my 20s. Frankly, reaching other countries didn't seem very realistic to me because in my family that never really was a goal. But somehow, that was exactly what I longed for so badly, inspired to see other places in the world with my own eyes.
Every time I came across some foreign words in different languages —cheering for Candy from an old Japanese cartoon, reading fiction literature about Genghis Khan or Ramses II the Pharaon of Egypt or masterpieces of Shakespeare, worrying about Indian Zita & Gita or Rosa Garcia from a Mexican series, memorizing expressions in German and Latin to surprise my classmates or songs in Yoruba for myself, — every time I got the hold of any single phrase-book teemed with full sentences or even separate words in another language, I'd write as many of them as I could down somewhere and imagine in my head using them in a conversation with someone who speaks that particular language.
Quotes in Latin, phrases in Spanish, some old Russian words —I had plenty of little notebooks and pieces of paper with notes like this!
My family members would say, "Alina, why do you need it? It serves nothing." But see, passion tends to be stronger than rational and logical arguments about the practical applications of the pursued interests.
After graduating from school, I started working in a travel agency and got to see Egypt —that incredible country of mystery and rich ancient history, pharaons and gods I read so many fiction books about! Seven years later, I met a guy —my future husband— from a faraway land where I have never been before. That man changed my life completely emerging me on all fronts into that foreign world.
First of all, English language replaced Russian in my everyday communication (albeit my poor speaking skills at the time). Also, together we went on to live in different countries for some significant stretches of time, which, turned out, for me personally meant being able to communicate with people there, at least to some extent, and so I would learn their languages: sounds, letters, words, grammar rules, phrases.
Having my husband, that amazing man, in my life made me stronger and able to start doing things I truly enjoyed: teaching English to others, helping people to achieve their goals in life that were dependent on this knowledge of the language. Because for me knowing English changed so much in my life. If I couldn't speak it, even that clumsily as I did then, I wouldn't be able to talk to the man I met and we would not ever end up together. And that, in my case, meant: no travels, no other languages, no discovered and pursued passions.
Passion lives fully only by inspiring others.
Teaching English became my true call, and the successes of my students prove it. Here is my next humble attempt to inspire more people to learn a foreign language: I decided to go on a grand virtual adventure this year, on a language "trip" around the world, or, as I call it,
LANGVENTURE!
Though the word is kind of funny and obviously made up, it captures the essence of the challenge at hand. I commit to venture into various languages —through the means of online resources— to understand their basics and scripts, and try to see their "big picture", what they are all about. It is just 2 weeks for each language, so I have a mission to discover as much as I possible during one year, but of course I do not expect to get a deep understanding or to learn 26 languages.
I just hope that this adventure will result in broader understanding of the languages of the world we live in, some common concepts for language learning, or maybe in solutions to avoid those daunting struggles while taking on a new language, or —who knows?— will grant us all with some unexpected discoveries.
Just like when you see the Eiffel Tower and connect the image with France, or eat sushi and instantly think of Japan recognizing those distinct cultures behind the certain objects or specific foods, the same way knowledge about the world's languages, I believe, must be at our immediate disposal. You see the script, or even hear someone talk and you go: "This is Thai", or "This is Afrikaans", or "This is Greek", or other.
Everyone is very welcomed to join me on that first ever taken Langventure and discuss the findings. Feel free to offer any help: sites, books that teach a language, awesome articles or interesting facts and words. This Langventure is something I'm very excited to share with all of you!
I know, a "trip" like this one is not going to be easy. I struggle with languages the same way everyone does. My memory isn't magical at all, and words slip away, and rules may not stick. So the greatest help of all, honestly, is your support, guys! Your cheers to persevere, your ideas about what I found on the way, your thoughts on the languages you know and your stories about struggles and challenges you personally went through while acquiring a new language.
It is time to wonder into the unknown. Meet me in your language! ;)
"Ah, Langventure!.. Let's get started!"
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