BANDUNG, unpas.ac.id – In the midst of globalization, mastering foreign language becomes the important aspect to support communication. For students, having this skill is not only improving self-quality, but adding more values in career opportunities.
Today, learning foreign language is not only about taking it on a paid-course. Having our own motive and goodwill, there are a lot of young generation who are skilful to speak foreign language just by doing their self-taught, including Valda Zahirra Sidqi, a class-of-2019 student of Law Study Universitas Pasundan who masters more than 5 foreign languages.
Apart from being skilful in speaking English which is in advance level, Valda is also able to speak Korean, Germany, Thai, French, Japanese and Spain. Valda admitted that her interest to learn foreign languages started from the entertainment program she followed to.
“It basically started from the entertainment programs, such as film, drama and music. As time passed by, I think that each foreign language is unique. So, to make it more positive and productive, I started to learn the language, understand the writing, tone and the nation’s culture itself,” she said on Monday, 23 August 2021.
Even though she mostly spends time learning independently, Valda did not waste the chance if there are a free course. Few of them include Korean course held by Unpas and online French course.
Like and Get Practice
Valda thought that before deciding to learn foreign language, make sure that it is not because of the trend only. It needs an encouragement of curiosity and love from the inner self, so that it will not be burdensome when studying.
“It needs a motive or strong intention, because, apart from being able to speak, we also need to understand how to read and write the language itself. I myself always started from the basic; understanding the writing, then pronunciation, or it could be the opposite ways. It depends on how hard it is,” she explained.
Furthermore, take a priority. The desire to master various foreign languages is certainly the dream of many students. However, it will be better if it is properly studied and focused on one by one, at least until you are quite confident to speak.
“Do not forget to practice it, to make the speaking skill better. Most people can only study on it, without practicing it. It is probably because the responses from other people are not quite good, but this is the challenge indeed,” added Valda.
The way Valda practices her speaking skill is also unique. She usually plays a game which has two-way communication feature along with users from Korea, Thailand and other country. She also takes advantages of the free language-learning application, such as Duolingo, to improve her skills.
Foreign Language and Valda’s Big Dream
There are always obstacles all the way to the succeed – that is what Valda, a 2021 Millennial Adjutant for West Java Governor, feels when learning foreign language. For Valda, it takes longer time to learn the language whose writing uses specific letters, such Korean, Japanese and Thai.
“Language, which are still used and written in alphabet is way much easier to understand. We only need to put the grammar in and arrange the pronunciation. Other difficulties is the right and proper tone of speaking, because, when we make a simple mistake, it could probably mean differently,” she explained.
By mastering foreign language, Valda plans to continue her study of Post-graduate School to foreign country. She is targeting a full-funded scholarship in Korea or America, soon after she graduates from Bachelor program. She wants to make her dream of being Ministry of Law and Human Rights – which is based on her education department, come true.
“My nearest plan is probably to take Master Degree, yes. But the long-term target is to spend my time travel around the world without being accompanied by translator,” she ended.
While improving her soft skill and gaining experience in the global field, Valda is currently preparing herself for attending the 2021 ASEAN Conference – China Young Leaders and make herself busy in mentoring activity along with Volunteer Vision.
“This conference was held by ASEAN Foundation that work together with Peking University. The event was held virtually, in which participants will be involving in the interactive process to understand the diplomacy and the decision-making of country members of ASEAN in dealing with regional issues through various simulations of ASEAN conference,” she concluded. (Reta)*
