Dearest Language Lab,
It is so sad to see you go… or me go? Perhaps I’m glad and relieved that I’m graduating. I will sincerely miss this basement, with its lack of sunlight and abundance of candy. Before I leave, I would like to impart some sage wisdom (thank you Patricio for the inspiration) from someone who has taken an unreasonable number of language courses and still wants to learn more.
Learning a language is a social activity! Confession: I never went to conversation hours or Language Lab events when I was a first-year, and I wish I did! Now that I’m graduating, I will dearly miss the language-learning community here. I have found so much value in spending time at Language Lab events, Pause Café, Mandarin Conversation Table, and La Merienda this semester. The whole point of language is to express ourselves, learn from others, and build community! Don’t wait to be perfect or fluent, the time to use your language is now, even if it’s not 100%!
Find joy in the process. I’ve been studying languages my entire time at Reed. Every free elective space I’ve had has gone towards language classes. I understand the frustration and confusion in pursuit of this mythical “instant” language. I doubt it exists! Learning a language, like anything else in life, is about making mistakes. It’s frustrating and it’s embarrassing, I get it. But there’s something really beautiful about seeing it all get easier! Everyone here is rooting for you! I don’t know if I’ll ever reach the same proficiency as a native speaker, but that isn’t the point. Your language is what makes you…you!
Go abroad! You never know where your language will take you. My intro Chinese classes brought me to Taiwan, where I got to speak to a (very perplexing and sweaty) Buddhist monk on a train platform… using only Mandarin! The world is so much bigger than our tiny campus. It just takes a little bit of language and imagination to take you there.
To be sentimental, the first time I went to the Language Lab, I had to ask my French tutor to meet me in the library lobby and walk me down, because I had no idea where it was. I’ve learned so much since then—not just French, Chinese, and Spanish, but I’ve found such an appreciation for the beauty of language. I’m really grateful that such a place exists. Enjoy the summer break, and be sure to stop by the Lab next year to see what’s up next!
Last but not least, a final sad song recommendation. 因為感覺這個最後的學年就像一部非常長的電影，再給我兩分鐘吧！再見！