Language: German
Writer's Background: I started learning German by myself almost a year ago. It's a slow process, but I enjoy taking my time and having fun as I go!
Recently, I have taken it upon myself to start learning German in my free time. I’ve always wanted to learn another language that I wasn’t learning in school. My issue was that school took up all of my time because of the huge piles of homework and studying I’d have to do every night. I wasn’t able to hang out with my friends or do any of my hobbies, like baking. I thought, “How could I have the time to learn a whole new language if I don’t even have the time to bake brownies for an hour?” I didn’t feel dedicated or motivated enough to put another untouched hobby on my plate.
I found my motivation when my sister, Sarah, found a boyfriend. Crazy, I know! She left for Australia to study abroad and practically came back a new person. She was incredibly tan, curly-haired, and oddly exuberant. She informed me that she had met Lukas, her new love interest while in Australia, leading me to believe that he was Australian. However, she surprised me with the fact that he was from Germany. Nevertheless, I was glad for her because she seemed happy. I wasn’t sure how she would handle the long-distance relationship, but from the information that she would happily deliver to me, I could tell that their bond was strong. For the next few weeks, my sister would tell me about her boyfriend and funny conversations they had with each other. She would also mention that communication was difficult between them, as Lukas was still learning the unusual English language. English’s unreasoned spelling rules and almost seemingly unreasoned grammar rules make it hard for any foreigner to try to learn the language. His broken English rendered my sister confused and caused many misunderstandings between them.
On a typical afternoon when I was unmotivated to do my homework, I was aimlessly scrolling through my phone’s settings and came across the different keyboards I had: the ones listed were English, traditional Chinese—for when I converse with relatives that only speak Chinese—and Emoji. Recalling a recent conversation with my sister about her needing to Google Translate German messages that Lukas would send her, I searched for a German keyboard. Not only was I successful in finding a German keyboard, but I found three different German keyboards! It was in that moment that the idea of learning German popped up in my head. I quickly sent a screenshot of my newfound German keyboard to Sarah, stating that I would be learning German for the sake of having better communication with Lukas.
When Sarah came home, she barged into my room with a smile on her face and a phone in her hand. She showed me messages between Lukas and herself, revealing to him that I made this decision to learn his native language. His reply read, “I appreciate Cassie.”
I think that German sounds extremely cool, and the harsh tones of the language intrigue me. The consonant sounds are different from those in English, and I wanted to explore the different ways to contort my tongue and mouth. Some may find the language to be ugly and angry-sounding, but I consider it to be spontaneous and enigmatic. It’s like smelling a fragrant herbal tea you have never drunk before, cautiously, and then finally summing up enough courage to dip your tongue in. You taste a wondrous flavor that excites your insides as it pulses throughout your body. German was that refreshing sip of new knowledge for me, and I continue to drink it every day.
Hui is a high school junior from Livingston, NJ.
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