English Learning in the University

I am interested in English since my English teacher at the third grade of elementary school in Jakarta introduced the language to me. Most of my friends in elementary school said that English was difficult to learn, but at the time, I thought English was a unique language that I had never found in my life before, so that I was interested in the language and I was curious about it. To treat my curiosity of English, I asked my parent to register me in an English course. I learned English until I was a Senior High School student, but I thought that I still could not use it well. I made many grammatical mistakes when I used the language, and my pronunciation was still bad. That is why I went to English Department of SWCU to learn English deeply. In this department, I expect that I could improve my English, so that after I graduated from the department, I could become a person who was able to use English well, and of course, I could become a worthy person to work as a journalist in an English newspaper or magazine (it was my dream in Senior High School).

Reflection - As English Spreads, Indonesians Fear for Their Language

I read a writing “As English Spreads, Indonesians Fear for Their Language” by Norimitsu Onishi for one of my classes. After reading the writing, I feel happy. The reason I have such a feeling is that it shows me something I have not imagined before in my life. I have learned two things from the writing.

Reflection - East meets West, or does it really?

I read a narrative entitled “East meets West, or does it really?” by Jock Wong for one of my classes. After reading the story, I feel happy because I learn something new from the story. I have learned two things from the story.

Two languages, two cultures, one(?)self

I read a narrative “Two languages, two cultures, one(?)self: Between Polish and English” by Anna Wierzbicka for one of my classes. The story makes me feel happy. The reason I have such a feeling because it shows me something I have not thought before in my life. From the story, I have learned two things.

Reflection - Game Names

I read a writing entitled “Game Names” by Karen Angel for one of my classes. After reading the writing, I realized that the writing shows me that I am not the only person who has ever been in trouble with the name. From the writing, I have learned two things.

First, I learn a new concept related to the culture, language, and identity. The concept is ‘name creates identity’. The writing proves it, and so does my experience. When I was a student in elementary and junior high school, at the time I introduced myself to friends and teachers by mentioning my full name, all of them would directly guess that I was not a totally Javanese (in other words, I come from outside Java and so do my parent). Whereas in fact, I am included to a Javanese because I was born and raised in Java island. Another proof to show that I am a Javanese is my mother who is a pure Javanese (even though my father is an Ambonese). However, because of my last name -Tayl- that sounds unfamiliar for them, they considered me as someone who comes from outside Java. They would look me as an Ambonese only. At the time, I felt a little bit disappointed with the name my parents gave. I wondered why my parents had to put my father's family name -Tayl- in my whole name. I am not ashamed to be an Ambonese, but the only thing is the family name made me feel that I was a stranger among my friends because most of my friends (especially my close friends) are Javanese. I had ever asked my father to remove his family name from my whole name, but he just responded it by laughing and told me that the family name was important. As times go on, I can understand why he put the family name even though I still do not know what the word “Tayl” means. The family name shows my identity to all people in the world that I am a part of Tayl’s family.

Another thing I learn is ‘name affects self-confidence”. In the writing, there was a statement said that English name makes someone very fashionable and trendy. I do not know whether I have to agree with the argument or not because it is a complicated thing to think. When I was an elementary student, my first name ‘Elisabeth’ that I think could be considered as an English name made me less confident. The reason was because many of my friends in elementary school had an Indonesian name, such as Fitri Nurhayati, Dyah Novita Sari, Dewi Murtiningsih and etc. At that time, I felt that my name was strange to hear and meaningless, so that I felt uncomfortable with the name and I felt less confident of myself. But now, I feel comfortable to have the name. It is because many of my friends now have an English name, so that I do not have to be a strange among my friends.

Finally, I want to say that this writing is like a mirror for me as a reader. It reflects me back about what I had experienced with my name.