According to the United States Census Bureau, early 1 in 5 Americans speak a language besides English at home. What this means is that many Americans are bilingual or multilingual, and that they bring a lot of knowledge with them because of the different perspectives each language communicates. In my memoir, Trauterose, I share my journey of being a native German speaker and learning English in my teens. I share how I learned English through pop culture, how learning the language connected to learning more about American culture, and the sense of loneliness I felt while navigating a different language and culture.
3 Ways Learning A Different Language Changed Me
In my memoir, I share three key ways that learning English changed me. For me, learning English was not just about learning how to communicate with others; it also taught me different aspects about myself and my environment.
1.Understanding the Environment
Although it wasn't the most accurate representation, I also learned about American culture through pop culture such as TV shows and music and through using the library to gain access to English-language learning programs.
By learning to connect with the resources available in my surroundings, I started to feel more confident and grounded. I learned that there was a way for me to pave a path for myself that suited my needs at that time.
2. Understanding the Culture
Learning English taught me more about American culture. For example, I learned about American mannerisms such as responding to questions like "how are you?" with simple statements such as "good." In German culture, however, we would respond to the question with a long answer explaining how we truly feel.
Learning English helped me connect the dots in understanding a culture different from the one I grew up in but with time, American culture felt more familiar.
3. Feeling Lonely
Learning a new culture and language was challenging because I began to feel like I didn't belong in either German or American culture and that the languages and cultures I knew didn't quite fit the person who I was slowly becoming.
There were times in my life where the feeling of loneliness settled in and made me feel depressed. As the writer, Dr. Brene Brown says, "True belonging doesn't require you to change who you are; it requires you to be who you are." During my early years of living in America, I had not found true belonging but with time, I began to feel a sense of peace and acceptance.
The Journey Never Ends
The journey to learning a new language and culture as well as learning more about ourselves never ends! In my memoir, I share this journey and help readers learn how to find their voice and true self by sharing my story.