Living Under the Language Pledge as a Beginner A letter by Alexander Sullivan, Fall 2005 Beijing Chinese Language Program Student
To Future CET Students:
I write this letter not intending to be preposterous, pompous, or pedantic, and certainly not intending to imply that I am worthy to teach a lesson on study abroad, but merely to describe my own experience as a student totally new to Chinese and living under the language pledge.
As such, it goes without saying that the first several weeks of such a life are very difficult. I myself was totally unaccustomed to being a functional mute merely because I could not begin to say what I wanted to in Chinese. Nearly one hundred percent of my vocabulary consisted of "good" and "not good". So, certainly, I know whereof I speak when I say that the seeming isolation weighs on one's mind on the beginning.
"...at CET more than at many other schools, the community exists to help you...."
That initial isolation is, however, the absolute best impetus to improve one's Chinese. If, for example, you desperately need a shower, and you do not know when the hot water works, you have to learn to ask about the hot water in Chinese. Otherwise, that desperately needed shower will remain a wish. It is these experiences, the above one being one of my own, that forces your Chinese to progress quickly. And, at CET more than at many other schools, the community exists to help you. First of all, the fantastic teachers will ensure that you learn correct, useful Chinese quickly. Furthermore, not only are there other students that can help you, there are always Chinese roommates who are willing and able to help you with Chinese issues you may run into. I give credit for the progress I have achieved thus far to four people, principally: my three teachers and my roommate.
However, the lynchpin of the opportunity for lightning improvements in your language skills is adhering to the language pledge. I was not the most stringent of the students, by a long shot, in keeping the pledge for the first two weeks or so. But, as the days drew on, I realized that by breaking down and using English when I got even remotely frustrated, I was squandering all the excellent chances to learn a Chinese word in everyday life, and to actually have an experience or a need attached to it. After I began to concentrate on only speaking Chinese, I rather suddenly found that I could communicate with some sort of rough efficacy, and the separation I had been feeling was gone. My sole companion in the beginners' class agreed that after just one month or less, the language pledge is no problem.
It is not my job to tell you that Beijing is a fantastic city in which to live, learn Chinese and have fun. But I have to put a little plug in here, anyway. It keeps getting better and better for me the more Chinese I can muster to my aid. That is why I assert that keeping the language pledge is truly essential, especially for those who are just beginning their studies upon arrival.
Sincerely,
Alex Sullivan
1920 N Street, NW, Suite 200 - Washington, DC 20036 - (800) 225-4262 - cet@academic-travel.com
As such, it goes without saying that the first several weeks of such a life are very difficult. I myself was totally unaccustomed to being a functional mute merely because I could not begin to say what I wanted to in Chinese. Nearly one hundred percent of my vocabulary consisted of "good" and "not good". So, certainly, I know whereof I speak when I say that the seeming isolation weighs on one's mind on the beginning.