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Date Posted: 10:02:28 06/27/03 Fri
Author: Júnia Resende de Freitas
Subject: TASK 8

When I was 11 years old I started to learn a foreign language: English. Since that time, I never stopped my process of learning this language. It is interesting say that a period of my life I did not want to learn English anymore and I thought give up learning this language. I thought that I could change my learning to another second language: Spanish. But, my mother insisted with me and I realized that I could not live without English. So, I put in my mind this idea that English was (and is) so important for me and I started to learn this language again. And I started to learn Spanish, too.
From 1989 to 1993 I studied at ICBEU Bennet English Course, in Ponte Nova. I lived there for a long time and I began my English learning history in this city, specifically, in this course where I got only my Basic English Course certificate because I moved to Belo Horizonte before finish the other step. I cannot remember many events that occurred with me in this period but I know that it was fun for me learn English at that time. In classroom, I had two teachers: the ICBEU’s owner, Mrs. Soares, and another teacher called Mrs. Gomides. Mrs. Soares was a serious, exigent woman that traveled a lot to many countries, studied a lot and so on and so forth and because of this she wanted all the students pronouncing words as good as they can (she made the students repeat the words many times until got the right pronunciation); she made us memorize a list of irregular verbs (I know that sometimes this is not good but for me helped a lot); she pretended a real situation which students should speak with foreign people and developed their capacity in speaking; students should do all homework because she punished (with a ‘lecture’) everyone who did not followed the course in a right way; she taught everything she knew about other culture, the way you should behave, her experience abroad what she saw and lived (Cultural competence), once in a while she promoted exchanges for students visit other countries and have their own experiences and vice-versa (they could developed Sociolinguistic competence). She tried to do the best for everyone. She taught me a lot. And, Mrs. Gomides taught me a lot, too. When I was studying at this course, I got a chance to know other country but my father did not allow me to go. Then, I did not travel and I did not have the opportunity to have my own experience abroad.
Then, as I said, I moved to Belo Horizonte and here I never went to an English Course. Since I live here, I only studied English at schools and now at the University. Not because I could not go but because I passed for a crisis that my mind did not accept English anymore, as I said before. So, learn English did not make sense for me, time passed and I did not search a course for study, this is what happened.
I studied at Centro Universitário Newton Paiva and there I could learn more about English and I learnt technical English, too. This happened because I did Foreign Trade and we must learn some words that are specific for this area to communicate with other countries, to do business (Interactional competence). This experience brought to me an impulse to keep learning this language because it was essential for me knowledge in English, although I had to learn Spanish and technical Spanish, too. This was the stimulation that I needed.
At UFMG I could have the same stimulus. I did (because I graduated in Foreign Trade last year) the two courses together and this helped me a lot in my learning process. One course fits the other in terms of language. Studying in UFMG, I still see and know very, very good teachers that make me wonderful with language (both our and foreign language). They know a lot and this calls my attention to keep learning every day. They taught and teach me a lot about English. Every class I realize that I chose the best place to study because I have all to be a good teacher. Each class I can learn much about English culture, the way they express, live, behave and so on, and the structure of this language. The material, the bibliography we use is the best ones and we, as learners, can learn everything we want. At this University, I had an experience to meet foreign students, talked to them and practiced my English. This situation was interesting. At UFMG, I could have this experience in Spanish, too. It was the same. It was so good.
And, my learning history is still being construct. I am only in the process of learning and learning a second language. Next time, I hope I can add more, and more news in my narrative about my learning history in order to learn English.

Júnia Resende de Freitas

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