By/Ahmed Almokaddem
Not so long in the past, going overseas was the one and only category of traveling. One was to embark on a flight or a voyage to another country for whatsoever their purpose was. Up until now, this form of traveling is a prerequisite for almost everybody for various purposes even though it is far-reached for many reasons.
However, the revolutionary technological advancements in virtual communication have, in a sense, bridged the gap between people. It has created what may be conceptualized as virtual traveling. It merely requires that one be connected to the internet even from the comfort of their home to embark on a special experience of traveling around without a strenuous, real move.
On another dimension, in a world submerged in globalization, life has imposed on those who are less enculturated to be left behind. In the course of life which has abrupt bends, it is becoming essential day after day to keep off conventional mindset so as not feel that one has been stricken off guard by circumstances.
Worldwide, especially in developing countries, learning foreing languages, most importantly the English language, has become pivotal for an individual to manage to reach out for both types of traveling afore mentioned.
Notwithstanding a long array of attempts to learn a new language, many people choke before they reach a level of sufficient communciative competence even though it may cost them a fortune to learn. Accordingly, they are left with dissastisfaction and lack of self- confidence.
One major reason why learning a foreign language is not reachable for many is the unfilled gap between passion and mindset. As an a teacher of English as a second language to learners of fifteen nationalities, all from third world countries, and mostly Egyptian locals, I have figured out the misalignment between people’s passion towards the acquisition of the target language and the innate surrender to thr local culture with no real tendency towards the culture relevant to the target language. Due to stereotypical, negative views of the Other West, many people have no vivid intention to merge into other cultures. Openness to diversity is a must-be- followed tenet of learning a foreign language. Objectivity is a must as it will, in the meantime, open us up to the bright side of other cultures.
Quite a bunch of learners ask for help with both macro and micro skills of the language disregarding the social context of the target language. They do not have any intention to lift a finger for themselves to adopt a new culture.
Learning a foreign language, as both learner and teacher of English as a foreign language, I have always believed in the power of the content in the first place as a spontaneous way to learn a foreign language. Concentrating on the content in our favorite fields will undoubtedly help us learn smoothly with an overwhelming impact due to the abundance of knowledge gained through focusing on the content. In more advanced levels, langauge acquisition comes collateral to immersion into the content. Being knowlegeable as a major concern leads normally to leveling oneself up in terms of language acquisition.
Last but not least, reconsidering the issue of acquiring a foreign language, the holy trinity of approaching that language should be taken for granted from day one: Pronunciation aspects with a determination to speak normally with a natural pace, cultural norms of the soceity whose mother tongue is the target language, colloquial speech of different, local communities and their dialects (keep in mind the slogan of being street wise rather than being book smart).
Off the beaten track, as much as mother tongue is what shapes our lifestyle and way of living, the target language should be deemed likewise. In another sense, it is high time one stopped branding themselves as a learner of the target language. The moment we start acquiring a foreign language is when we live our first days in life as little toddlers trying impulsively to articulte our initial set of vocabulary as we imitate our parents.
To conclude, always remember that you can book a wide range of flights without stepping off the threshold of your house. It is essnential that you know that your mother tongue is not enough.
