Language Fear
...sily. Ever since the first day I have landed in the new land full of freedom, opportunity, and independence, I have feared reaching or talking to anyone who would come up to me. Whenever someone came up to me, I would look the opposite direction as though they did not exist or just walk away with my head down. The hardest part came in my elementary years. I still remember the first day of class in America. It was probably the most complicated and awkward feeling in the world unlike any other feelings I have felt before. I would constantly have butterflies in my stomach and red cheeks all over my face. For example, the teacher would ask for my name and I thought to myself for a second because I know how to pronounce it in my native tongue but how do you pronounce it in America. Is it Hi, High, or Hey? So, I just go with my first impression and blurted it out Hi as in Hi, how are you. At that time, I did not care if somebody pronounced it right or not; I just wanted to move on. Answering questions and being called on is another dilemma for me. I am one of those students who are always sit in the back no matter what and never raise its hands. But when I am called on, I got really nervous because either I would mess it up and say the wrong thing or perhaps pronounce incorrectly and have students laugh at me. Before I answer to anything, I have a habit of thinking first before I speak so I do not mess it up badly. Every time, I start to speak, I would think it through very carefully before I say something. ...