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LITERACY NARRATIVE

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LITERACY NARATIVE

Old couples walking hand in hand. Teenagers completely glued on their iPhone smiling and texting. Numerous stores and stalls selling their overpriced goods. This is one beautiful place I always went back in my country for relaxing. After school, i together with a bunch of my friends would stroll down the city to the mall to have a smoothie and more importantly make fun of people and their dress codes.

Other times I would just walk to the mall alone. Hoping it would give me some peace of mind. The mall was my sanctuary and it comforted me when I was feeling down and blue. I had a specific seat at my favourite restaurant where I always sat staring at the fountain. A cold breeze would wash all over my face carrying away my troubles and leaving a calmness deep within.

One particular day as I was walking in the mall, enjoying my peace of mind when this gorgeous girl passed me. She had this beautiful face, long hair that was curled up in locks. She had a pink bag that hang loosely on her shoulder and was busy perusing her book. For a few seconds, I just stood there admiring at the beautiful creation. My mind was made up and I had to talk to her.

I did not want to embarrass myself nor look like a stalker so I stood for a few seconds and gathered a few lines that I thought would sweep her off her feet. In longer strides, I walked towards her and patted at her back. Slowly, she looked back and I stood there aloof. All I had planned escaped my mind and began bluffing in my native language. She looked at me blankly and I knew I was not making any sense.

After what felt like a whole hour of gibberish bluffs, she looked at me and made signs at me which pointed that she did not understand the language that I was using. She only understood English. I pointed to her book which she let me look at it. I could only read Harry Porter because in school there was a boy called Harry and we used to learn about Michael Porter in my marketing class. That incident left me very disappointed and humiliated and I vowed I wouldn’t tell my friends about that incident. I knew they would laugh at me and make fun of me for the semester.

I had never had any interest in learning English at all. Back in my country, people did not need to learn English. We were comfortable communicating in our native language and thus I had no interest in learning the language. All this changed within a span of minutes. That girl that I never got to learn her name changed the course of my life. I felt cheated. Life had a played a huge trick on my face and I had to avenge it.

In my former school, we had missionary teachers who had come from different parts of the world and knew more than one language. The teacher, Mr Clifford was well versed with the language. He had started a club for a few students who had interest in the language and right that moment I knew what I had to do.

I walked to the teacher one afternoon and expressed my desire in the knowledge of English language. I could see a genuine glitter in his eyes which told me that he was really excited I had taken the bold step in wanting to study the language. i had no clue about the English language and was determined to learn the language.

The following day, I went back to the mall hoping I would meet her again. That day, I did not seat at my particular table but strategically positioned myself at a seat where I could see people walking on the corridors. Seating there silently, I took my phone and started using Google translate to try understand the language and be able to read. It was hectic at first but I was determined.

At that moment, I remembered the mystery girl had a book by Harry Porter. Quickly, I paid the bill and headed to a bookshop at the nearest stall in the mall. There, I met an attendant who looked really bored. Most probably she hadn’t sold any books the whole day. I did not comment on her state lest she insulted me. So nicely, I asked her whether she had any books by Harry Porter and she said she had quite a collection. I settled for Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and left for home. That night I couldn’t get enough sleep as I tried to read the book. I must say it was not easy. But I knew with the determination I would learn it.

Slowly by slowly I started reading the simple words in English. My attitude towards English and the language completely changed. I knew the importance of learning a universal language was. I started tuning and listening to television programs that expressed their news in English language. I would also prefer watching English movies and switch the subtitles in my language. This helped me learn how to pronounce words in English. As much as the accent was deep, I still was able to manage to read and understand English.

I enjoyed reading Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. I loved how the writer chose his words. Moreover, the book was fictional and thus it captivated me and thus I was always glued on the book. I never tried reading any other book. Harry Potter was all I wanted to read. The writer played a major role as my literary sponsor. I wanted to write and read fluently in English. I was determined to communicate fluently in English and that one incident at the mall changed my attitude and interest towards English language.

I would say as much as I love my country so much, it hindered my literacy development. It made us feel comfortable communicating in our own native language. We did not have much to study anyway. Learning a universal language and changing my literary experience is something I am ever grateful for. The people that surrounded me played a role in my literary experience as well.