MY ENGLISH LEARNING HISTORY

UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DE MINAS GERAIS
COMPUTER ASSISTED LANGUAGE LEARNING

STUDENT: Renato Frossard
PROFESSOR: Vera Menezes

My English Learning History

My English learning begins in the Elementary School. In that time, I was amazed with the learning of that new language. It was something totally new for me and I felt very proud of being able to speak some sentences like: “What’s your name?” and to answer this question with “My name is Renato”.

I felt I was not only a little boy anymore, since I was able to “understand” a foreign language. Besides that, I don’t know very well why, but English had some kind of attractive power towards me and I would never get bored during the English classes. Actually, I was always a step forward in relation to my colleagues that would not enjoy the classes as much as I would.

Another point that made me enthusiastic about learning another language was the possibility of, for the first time, being able to understand what my favorite English singers were saying in their songs lyrics. In fact, since my early childhood I was very interested in music and this indirectly made my interest for English also increase.

I felt I could really learn that language and that I would be able to understand and sing all my favorite English songs. I was very glad!
But then, the time passed. I was growing older. I began to see that the world was not so colorful as I had thought. And year after year I would “learn” the same things again and again at school. Until one day I was able to “teach my teacher the verb to be” (lol). It was frustrating not only for me, but I believe my teachers also found it boring to have a student in class who would answer to every question even before they had finished making them.

When I began the secondary school, my colleagues soon realized that “I knew everything”. Then I had a hard time being the one who would do everybody’s works and correct everyone’s tasks. I hated that! Imagine that the students from the other classrooms would come to my room in order to ask me to do their tasks??? And I could not say no, because everybody thought I was a nerd, so they wouldn't like me very much, unless I would do everyone’s work and “be proud of it”.

After finishing the secondary school I had already realized that, knowing the “verb to be” and how to say “how old are you?” was not a great deal. The problem was that I could not afford studying in a private English school. Then, the only thing I could do was to study by myself. That’s what I did then. I started reading things in English and using songs as a way of developing my skills and, by doing so, I was able to achieve some improvement.

The Federal University

The years passed and I got a job at Bang Bang Burguer, a fast food shop. For some time, it seemed that I had forgotten all about my dreams and professional ambitions. Sometimes, my little knowledge of English would amuse people when I had the opportunity to talk to some foreign customer that would show up to have a snack. But that was all. “Fortunately”, one day I lost my job. Then I decided to get back to school and began studying to my Entrance examinations for UFMG. At the beginning, I had not even thought about choosing Letras as my course. I wanted to study music, since I had always loved this area. However, I realized that, I could not pass the entrance examination to study music because I didn’t have the required knowledge. I was reading through the candidates manual when I found the Letras course description. I saw, then, that I could choose English as my area of studies. Then I remembered all my love for this language and was happy to choose Letras as my university course. I passed the examinations and began studying. I was very happy.

The problems, however, were just starting to appear. As I began the course I discovered that I was supposed to have a degree of knowledge of the English language that was far beyond the knowledge I had until then (at least I believed so). Then I got very worried and tryed to think about possible ways for acquiring and developing my English skills. One day, I asked a friend if she would like to study with me, in order that we both could refine our English. Then she answered: "No, thank you. I don’t want to study with someone that knows less than I do. It’s no use." I got so embarrassed that I could hardly find an answer to this. Then I said: Ok, thank you anyway.

Nevertheless, I decided to face the challenge and began studying like a crazy to catch up with the other students who had had the opportunity to begin their studies in private schools since their early childhood. I used my rights as an underprivileged student and enrolled myself in the CENEX English course. At the same time, I used the Internet, films, songs, books, and everything else I could think about as a way to improve my English skills. Surprisingly, I was able to go on taking my graduation course, whereas some of my friends - even some who had studied in private English schools - had given it up long before.

Later, I was selected to work as a trainee at MAI English, which helped me to improve my English even more. I won a scholarship to take a course in advanced English and this also helped me a little bit.

More recently, I was selected to teach English at CENEX, which I considered the great trophy for my effort to learn this language. I recognize that I still have lots of things to learn, but I can’t deny that I have made a great advance.

Nowadays, I still keep my love for English and I still study a lot. I use the TV, Music, reading and Internet to create an environment where English is the "official language". These things have helped me to improve listening and speaking skills. I also have to mention that I improved a lot my writing skills, since the demand for this ability is very hard in the university. This necessity compelled me to learn, no matter I liked it or not.

Now I'm almost graduating in Licenciatura and I can hardly believe I did it all. I thank God that he's given me such an "obstinate" character, so that I wouldn't give up my dreams easily.

My last victory came recently. I have been selected to take part in the Capes/Fipse Interchangement Program. I'm going to stay one semester at Wayne State University, in Michigan, USA, from January to May, 2006. I'm very happy and greateful to my God and to my Lord Jesus Christ. Only a God so great like ours to give me such a wonderful gift. I'm going to have this dream fulfilled. I'm going to know a little of North American culture and to improve my English. I'm finally receiving the reward for my efforts to learn English and for not having payd attention to those who wanted me to quit my objectives. This is really wonderful. I'm sure it will be an unforgetable experience. I wonder how will life be like after I go to this interchangement program and after I come back. I'm sure things will be very different, then.

Well, that’s a little of my English learning history. I hope You have enjoyed it, and I also hope that it can inspire you to never give up your dreams and never pay attention to people that want you to give them up. And remember, the history of your lives is not written yet. Only you can write your history!

Hugs! God Bless you!!!

Renato Frossard