A world of words
It is rather cold today in Heidelberg. A little shower in the morning and heavy wind throughout the day. The season has come to a very subtle phase where you can hardly judge if it is still autumn, or winter has arrived unnoticed.
The new semester of Heidelberg University started on Monday this week, and my schedule has already been filled with courses both in English and German. I have long been curious about how and what students are taught in a foreign university.Luckily, they seem not completely unfamiliar.
In a linguistic course called Approaches to World Englishes, we will look at Englishes spoken in different parts of the world — their accents, history,cultural backgrounds and future. It interests me that Hong Kong English will be studied too. I have several intimate friends from Hong Kong, who speak English with a very distinctive accent and intonation.Now for the very first time, I have been offerred a perfect chance to know not only how they speak, but why like this.
The “cool” (the more I study English, the less I use this word—there are so many accurate words to describe HOW “cool” it is; it will be a big waste if all the different good feelings are devoured by a vague “cool”) thing about studying language academically is that one will be able to turn his/her rough impressions — which in my mind resembles a buoyant leaf on whirling water — to something solid and secure— Knowledge.
I have also discovered that there may be a mysterious power which weaves fragments of my life into a consistent series. Months ago as I was visiting Bath, UK, I spent an entire afternoon in the Jane Austen Center (I hope there are many Austen fans among the readers here) smelling the air in the house and playing mini dramas in my head about Jane’s life. For a little souvenir to bring back, I randomly picked an exquisite bookmark which read “I Love Mansfield Park”.
Now months later in Heidelberg, sitting in the course of “Literature and Film, Mansfield Park”, with thirty young women glittering with enthusiasm about a same lasting name, I suspected delightedly that that bookmark had meant to lead me there.
I shall now trace back to a bit earlier, how I, born and brought up in a distant oriental country, have turned out a faithful soul who wishes to share a corner of the bewildering literary world. The answer looks superstitious but worth believing in—my birthday!
On the same date, two influential people, if not utterly historic, were born. One is Mr. Arnold Schwarzenegger, former Hollywood star and present Governor of California USA, whom there is no possibility I could ever become. The other— when I first learned it, an inner voice of mine shouted out of surprise -- is Emily Bronte, author of Wuthering Height, one of the most prominent British writers of all time.
I do not know if that means anything, but rather I like to take it as a hint. That mysterious power arranged me to be born on this special date, and has made me much closer in many ways to this special woman. As a kid of 8, I was shown by chance a black-and-white film of Jane Eyre, a work by Emily’s sister Charlotte Bronte. I was magnetized even without complete comprehension. The journey of loving literature (in both languages I speak) then started and has led itself onwards.
So dear Rocio, I hope you now understand why I chose to study language and literature. It’s a natural choice. I know in many cultures, including Chinese culture, people believe in Fate. I do not say this is fate, because it sounds ostentatious. Nevertheless, there might still be one day at my old age when I look back and say “Well, it’s just meant to happen.”
Comments
I believe fate rewards those who work hard. Don't be frustrated by what you are experiencing now. You will earn the reward someday!
Dear Jin Lu, While I was reading this post, I had the feeling that it was the teacher's post. It maybe sounds as a flattery, but your entry is very well organized. Your descriptive language gives an impression that you have read many books in English. By the way,I like Jane Eyre too. I wish you success and many pleasant months in the university, studying what you really want.Diema
Dear Jin Lu, While I was reading this post, I had the feeling that it was the teacher's post. It maybe sounds as a flattery, but your entry is very well organized. Your descriptive language gives an impression that you have read many books in English. By the way,I like Jane Eyre too. I wish you success and many pleasant months in the university, studying what you really want.Diema
Hi Jin Lu! This is the first post from you I´ve read. I am little bit confused with the: " Luckily, they seem not completely unfamiliar." sentence. But the message and idea you communicate has made a good impression on me. Even, I could write about similarities in my childhood. Now, I want to explain my current position. Almost three years I have been interested in learning English read English texts and books explicitly. Despite that I don´t speak the language. There are three hard month behind me when I could not walk on my feet and gradualy lost all interests in anything even to read English books. As it started to turn better slowly these days I got a taste (lust in german) to read in Slovak and a choice from my library was very good. Memoares of Alexander Matuška our literary critic and scientist. He was unconvenient in his life-time has never been taught at schools then and, I think, is completely unknown and forgotten today. He was critical to bad habits in our, Slovak, behaviour having on mind his own weaknesses. And, his language; at first I had a problem alone to catch his style and richnes of our language which is so flat plane and amerikanised now. But, long befor Matuška entered in to my life I loved Emily Brönte and longed to learn her language. All the best to you and all!
Hi Jinhu, It seems from you writing that you are an avid reader. You have read many books and that will help you in your studies. After all the hard work that you are doing now, you will get benefit in the future. Don't worry enjoy your college life and be happy. My best regards are with you. Asma
...your cherished dream to visit the Wuthering Heights, to talk with Heathcliff; thinking of that little girl with her bunny; and an inborn oriental philosophy preserved deep down in our mind- all reveal the riddle of how you got this turn of phrase and your Gothic bent of mind. And Congrats to your Soul! It has already started sharing its bewildering world. Jin Lu, I don't want to draw a link between 'Hint' and 'Fate'...what I believe is what some one believes; if someone's mind and intuition shape something, he/she should head towards to execute. right ?..I liked your philosophy of 'looking back at old age'. You know the line " I celebrate myself, and sing myself...." (Of course, you know)...?..So, no ostentation, it is poetic spirit....eventually, enjoy your study....
Hi Jin Lu, a huge thanks to your wonderful respond to my comment! I am glad to hear that you've had some opportunities for experencing some korean cultures and you have a friend and family from my country.On the other hand, I am sorry that you can't continue to learn Korean. I haven't made any chiness friends althogh apparently there are lots of chiness living in Lincoln where is not far from where I live. It's intriguing that your philosophical analysis about the famous peoples' birthdays matching with your's. it's positive and also good for you to get inspiration from them too.Do you blieve fate and have you ever seen a fortune-teller to ask your destiny? It sounds you have to burn the midnight oil to achieve your dreams but don't forget that it's fateful to take good care of yourself when you especially live in abroad.
Hi Jin Lu, You are right! this time of the year is sort of funny. I must admit that in Northern Ireland it is a rather nice weather these days. What I mean by nice is that it hasn’t rained for a while and it is not as windy as it usually is. So I am enjoying the weather these days. We had lots of rain in summer so it is kind of summer for us. In the UK the academic year starts in September. So the first semester has already started here. I always find the beginning of a new semester a little stressful because you have to remember so many module codes, the lecturers teaching the modules and where and when each lecture take place. But once you become accustom to it then it is not too bad. Sometimes it could be very frustrating when you miss a lecture or something else unintentionally. Anyway, this is how the universities works so I better stop complaining. I would also like to comment on your new course you have started. It is interesting that you are studying different English dialects in various parts of the world. I live Northern Ireland where English is the main spoken language but what I find here is that accent in each town and city is different. So, I was just wondering how this course is structured. It will be fascinating to know more about your course. In my opinion English accent in non-spoken English countries is spoken in their native language accent. Anyway best of luck with your studies and hope that you achieve much more in life. Take care
hi jin i come this page for learning communicate english i am from iran i hope you help me for it
Hi Jin Lu, first I must say hat off to you for your eloquent English and lovely penmanship (hope that's the right word!). It was a coincidence that I just watched the film "Jane Austen Book Club" on TV last night and read your blog mentioning Mansfield Park and Jane Austen Center. I hope you'll greatly enjoy studying Literature and Linguistics. With the living proof of your blog here and many others to come, it starts to make me feel of the weaving flows from languages to cultures, because a Chinese heart subtly expressed itself in English, and the books-Jane Austen's books have certainly formed part of your intelectuality. Love to read more from you.
Hi Jin Lu I just wanted to congratulate on the way you use the language in your writting. Your blog reads just excellently and is very interesting and vivid. It seems to me that writting might be your calling.
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