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Parents think I’m weird... | ||
Tags: Polyglot bashing | Teenagers | ||
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 Language Learning Forum : General discussion |  | |
| delta910 Diglot Senior Member United States Joined 5880 days ago 267 posts - 313 votes  Speaks: English*, Spanish Studies: Dutch, German | Message 9 of 161 11 December 2009 at 4:40am | IP Logged |
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Wow, you have some very negative parents my friend. When mine found that I loved languages like crazy, they were happy for me. They liked that I loved something not the norm of kids. I mean, I was studying German at 9-10 years old. Now look at me, I want to have a career in languages.
Don't let them get you down my friend. Even though you are in a negative environment, keep your wits about you and keep learning. At least you wont end up like an arrogant American like most of the people here. But someday your mother will brag about you. I would say, because it is my nature, "You never supported me when I began at all. Why now mother?" 4 persons have voted this message useful | |
| ruskivyetr Diglot Senior Member United States Joined 5486 days ago 769 posts - 962 votes Speaks: English*, German Studies: Spanish, Russian, Polish, Modern Hebrew | Message 10 of 161 11 December 2009 at 5:07am | IP Logged |
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Don't let them get to you. If they think that your setting goals is bad then maybe that's why they are so close-minded. Just keep studying. If it helps let off a few good curse words in German :). It always helps to blow off some steam.
But in all seriousness, I understand where you are coming from. Although my parents were generally very supportive and helpful (in acquisition of materials, etc.) they sometimes told me I should find a different hobby when I would stay in my room for the whole weekend watching movies in German, but they never really meant it. It gets even tougher though when your friends start to tell you you're weird :(. I didn't particularly like that part. I was always embarrassed if someone saw the title of one of my textbooks. I didn't know what they would say. The best thing that I could do was answer directly. If someone like your parent asks you why you study languages or why you spend so much time on it say: "It's because I have something that makes me happy, instead of being a jerk to others just because I don't have a source of interest." 3 persons have voted this message useful | |
| prosaic Diglot Groupie China Joined 5806 days ago 44 posts - 58 votes Speaks: Mandarin*, French Studies: German, Russian, Esperanto, Latin | Message 11 of 161 11 December 2009 at 6:00am | IP Logged |
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I think, as one of the most important uses of language is communication and persuation, you may formulate an argument, in English of course, to get your parents to see your reason in learning languages; another argument to propose a more constructive manner of expressing opinion, for example, that yelling is a self-defeating way of expression; a third argument to explain that your personal feeling and thought deserve to be acknowledged and respected, rather than to be run by your parents, that it's human nature to be repulsed by overbearing manner, coming from whomsoever.etc.
This is my humble opinion. I wish you good luck with your study, and with your relationship with your parents! Edited by prosaic on 11 December 2009 at 6:06am 6 persons have voted this message useful | |
| Po-ru Diglot Senior Member United States Joined 5485 days ago 173 posts - 235 votes Speaks: English*, Japanese Studies: Korean, Spanish, Norwegian, Mandarin, French | Message 12 of 161 11 December 2009 at 7:00am | IP Logged |
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There's nothing weird about it. It's an incredibly productive hobby and one that can be
applied in various ways. I've made about 3,000 Japanese flash cards that I've stored into my memory. It's finals time and when it came time to memorize more flash cards, I memorized them ALL IN A DAY! It's a great and useful hobby. It's good to have other hobbies too(sports, video games, etc.) but language learning is truly something wonderful. Don't let your mom and dad get to you because your mom and dad AREN'T always right. Many American people think America is the center of the world and there's nothing useful outside of it and with that logic you get nowhere. Keep at it and don't worry about your parents! Do what you love to do! 2 persons have voted this message useful | |
| LuxEtVeritas Diglot Groupie United States Joined 5710 days ago 50 posts - 65 votes Speaks: English*, Spanish Studies: French, German, Italian | Message 13 of 161 11 December 2009 at 7:27am | IP Logged |
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I can relate to you here. When I was growing up, I was often punished from intellectual pursuits and hobbies if I did something wrong. My parents didn't criticize me as much
for being intellectually driven, but I understand how wrong it feels. On the bright side, consider how lucky you are that you're so motivated towards achieving such goals. Many people wouldn't even pick up a flashcard in a foreign language if they weren't ordered to- and it's sad. But even if your parents don't support your education (I had a similar problem for years with my parents), it's you who will ultimately be affected in life so do what you can to stay interested in languages, and work at them. Even if you can't at home, maybe at school. So anyway, I wish you luck with this difficult situation. Take it from someone who's been there, tensions regarding this matter will alleviate eventually, and it will be worth it in the end. -Lux :) -Lux 1 person has voted this message useful | |
| cordelia0507 Senior Member United Kingdom Joined 5843 days ago 1473 posts - 2176 votes Speaks: Swedish* Studies: German, Russian | Message 14 of 161 11 December 2009 at 10:00am | IP Logged |
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What a touching story.
I think everybody can understand to some degree how you feel right now. Also the motivations of your mother for saying what she did (even though I think it was too harsh..) It's funny to think that if you'd been living in a small European country you're almost guaranteed to be so fed up with studying languages in schoold that you'd not touch them voluntarily with a stick. But the grass is always greener and you deserve credit for wanting to expand your horizons and edcucate yourself! Kids from other countries "waste" a whole year away from home being an exchange student or similar to get their language skills up, usually in English. Fancy your mother opposing a few hours after school! I don't know how practically useful Portuguese and German are in the USA but supposedly it WILL help your college applications and your future career prospects. Or? As hobbies go, this definitely ought to fall into the "good" category. What a shame she doesn't realise that. You are at a point in life when you need to decide whether you are brave enough to go your own way or whether will make all the choices that others expect of you. Personally I did the latter and now I regret it. Stay true to who you are. That said - don't be a complete fanatic. Don't spend every minute of your spare time studying languages - that wouldn't be healthy. 19 persons have voted this message useful | |
| omigod666 Newbie Australia Joined 6046 days ago 17 posts - 27 votes Studies: French | Message 15 of 161 11 December 2009 at 10:05am | IP Logged |
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Damn it! Why's wrong with being different? I would seriously slap you silly if you give up on your hobby.
8 persons have voted this message useful | |
| cordelia0507 Senior Member United Kingdom Joined 5843 days ago 1473 posts - 2176 votes Speaks: Swedish* Studies: German, Russian | Message 16 of 161 11 December 2009 at 10:25am | IP Logged |
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One more thing Datsunking; you may want to consider if it is at all feasible for you to go on a language exchange with a German student. Such programs exist. Basically you'd spend a year with his family and he'd spend a year with yours and you'd both go to school. One good thing about this is that it's practically free apart from an agency fee and the air ticket. This would extend your schooling by a year though. Personally I went to boarding school throughout my teens. For better or worse neither of my parents had a clue what my interests were or what I did in my spare time. If the situation gets out of control, then do some research on language exchange programmes.
4 persons have voted this message useful |
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