Throughout grade school, I was always labeled as that “smart
quiet girl”. High school was a breeze for me. I graduated fifth in my class out
of 360, with a 98.6 grade point average. Every time I was in class, other
students would always stare at me as if I had two heads whenever I got my test
or quiz back with another 100 on it. I mean, school mainly focused on the maths
and sciences, and obviously (One would hope), that since I ended up in an
engineering college I just had a knack for it. I am a very left-brained person.
Some argue that I have it a lot easier—that it’s easier for me to get this
super hard degree of Chemical Engineering and to get a good paying job. And I
mean they’re not wrong; it’s nice to know that I have a job secured and that I
will be living pretty well off come graduation. But there was always one thing
I would be, and still kind of am, envious of other people – their ability to
use the right side of their brain more fluently. I find it so so intriguing in
people who can tap into that side – especially those who can just pick up learning
instruments and languages so easily. I have always yearned to learn another
language. Classes are time consuming and inflexible and books and learning
programs like Rosetta Stone are too expensive. I would always say to myself “maybe
if I had more time”. Now, I don’t have much of an excuse anymore with the help
of my IPhone.
While online, I came across this language learning website
called Memrise. I noticed there was an app for it as well, so I decided to
download it. You have the ability to learn another language on this app for
free. Really free, not like those apps where you have to pay to get the premium
options. Well, there is a premium option, but it’s only to see your statistics
and to help with words that are difficult for you. I am currently trying to
learn Japanese. Kind of random, but I've always loved Japanese culture and have
always wanted to learn the language (call me a Weaboo, I know). There are
probably hundreds of lessons one can access on the website, and those lessons
are synced to your app. You go through each lesson, learning the basic things
such as the alphabet (or syllabary in my case), and small sentences and
questions. As you become more advanced, there are lessons to further advance
you, like grammar and learning to read the language. It even works to move
these lessons from your short term memory to your long term, by “watering” the
levels as you go, since each level is a flower.
I feel like downloading this app has been one of the better
decisions I've made in my life. There’s often some negativity around
smartphones and apps, with people saying they’re distracting us too much or
making us dumber. I just wanted to bring to light that they are good too, from
my personal experience. I don’t know that I would have ever gotten the
motivation to learn another language if it weren't for the Memrise app. It lets
me learn it on my time, which is invaluable to me. Not only that, but apps and
smartphones can literally teach us anything now, from DIYs to subjects in
schools and how-to’s. Having the
resources to learn Japanese through my smartphone has made me happier. My goal
is to become fluent in Japanese, and with this little app, I think I can make
it happen.
No comments:
Post a Comment