revising

I am an international student and this is the reason why I also want to be more literate. I want to be more knowledgeable because this is like a protocol so that I can be successful in life. At first, I admit, I was nervous, a little bit anxious and, at the same time, very excited about learning English. I know it is the universal language that is why I knew I needed to learn this so that I will be able to communicate to a much wider range of people.

I was having a hard time before because it was a bit difficult to remember all English words and their meanings. But then, the lessons or the lectures became very helpful to me. The exercises and assignments became useful tools to make me remember what I’ve learned in class and use them in my daily routine. After learning to read and write English, I suddenly noticed some good transformations in my life.

Because of English literacy, I am able to read a wider range of newspapers, magazines, books and online articles and contents. I feel that I am no longer restricted in terms of understanding what I’m reading. Since I can understand English, I can even listen to a more diverse music and even watch films that are in English without the need of translation. Being literate is actually being free.

I feel like I am no longer afraid of talking to people and expressing myself. Being literate in English is like being open to so many things such as communicating with people of various origins, expressing my emotions, thoughts, ideas and opinions without hesitation and with further guarantee that people are also able to understand what I’m saying and/or writing because we are talking within a common ground – and that is the English language.

Being literate is like being mature too. When I was still unable to understand English, it felt like I always needed a guide or something. It felt like I was reliant on translations. So being literate is also being independent; since I can now read and write in English, I am no longer dependent on translations (and even a translator). Literacy is basically maturity, a stage where I am developed and more knowledgeable about myself and everything that is surrounding me.

Furthermore, because of being literate, I feel like I am in control of how to communicate and how people understand me. It’s not that I want to have power over someone that I talk to because I can already understand English, but it’s more of having the ability to communicate properly because I know the universal language. I think that is the reason why it is called “universal” language because this language will unite us. I love my mother tongue, but I will not deny that the English language has the true capacity to make different cultures connect to each other.

My literacy in English has been also helping me to give value to communication. I am now able to appreciate English literature more and since I can appreciate it more, I am getting more information about history, science, culture and life itself because most are written in English. I am more conversant now. Learning to read and write in English is like being fluid, spontaneous and being open-minded because I am able to communicate in a way that “most people” can really understand my feelings, my opinions and expressions. It matters to me that I am able to connect to people that is why being literate is very significant. Like I said, I value my mother tongue, but I cannot deny that reading and writing in English has also helped me reach my current status in life, and this status is, honestly, free from ignorance.