How my Language Ability has Changed Since Birth

Birth

Jul 27, 1984

A beautiful read head baby was born in Venezuela, South America.

Stopped Using Pampers

Jan 5, 1985

According to what my dad and aunts told me, I stopped using pampers when I was 6 months. They said to me I communicated me with babbling and mimics that I needed to go, since I didn't like to poop my clothes. For a child this is really important in language development.

Started Walking

May 4, 1985

I started walking after crawling when I was 10 months old. Sorry no picture.

Joining School

Sep 4, 1988

When I was 3 years old I wanted to be with my brothers in school so bad that my father put me in kindergarden. I started reading fast since my aunts and dad taught me also at mom. I was partially homeschooled and I also went to kinder. This is when I oficially started learning fully my first and native language, Spanish.

4th grade at the age of 8

Jan 5, 1991

At the age of 8 I was in 4th grade and I was top of the class. My family continued the homeschooling at the same time I went to school. Sorry, those pictures are in Venezuela.

7th grade, first exposure to English language at school

Sep 5, 1994

I joined 7th grade. In Venezuela this is the year where students are exposed to the English language (at least you arent taking private courses). When I started middle school, honestly I didn't quite understood the grammar in the English language and the professor I had were really poor in the understanding of the language. The only thing I learned was basic grammar like pronouns and greeting phrases. In the other hand my Spanish abilities were getting stronger and stronger.

Leaving South America, and moving with mom in Puerto Rico

Aug 9, 1999

When I arrived to Puerto Rico to live with my mother, I also started 12th grade. Since I got to this country, which most of the people spoke two languages, I was lost. In English class in high school I didn't understand a thing since the teacher only spoke English, and I survived with my grandmother and friends helping me with homework. No English or interest was developed.

Started university

Aug 1, 2000

At the age of 16 I started university. I started with the very low English class, since I didn't know much. In this basic classes is when I started to 'sharpen' my ears to understand the basic spoken basis of the language and basic conversations. Also, I decided to watch cable TV in English and try to understand what they were saying. I was more exposed to the language.

Travel to Disney World for the first time

Dec 23, 2000

The first time I traveled to Disney is when I was 15 years old. Even tough I didn't understand much what I heard, I started to be more exposed to English speakers and basic conversations.

Joined Youth with a Mission

Sep 21, 2002

I decided I wanted to do something else with my life at the moment and I stopped college and I join YWAM, which is a missionary association that prepares missionaries to serve and help others. In this photo I'm with 3 of my roommates. Two of them are from the states and one canadian. This is the time when I started talking and communicating the little English I know.

One of my teachers

Nov 5, 2002

Most of the teachers in the missions were americans or spoke in English. This made me and also helped me understand the language better in language and written communication (since I had to do homework).

Foreigner friend at home for Christmas!

Dec 27, 2002

Since my canadian friend couldn't go home for Christmas I "adopted her" and she stayed at home. She helped me alot to improve my conversations and expand my vocabulary.

First missionary trip - Ecuador 2003

Jan 16, 2003

My first missionary trip was to Ecuador. Even though it was a Spanish speaking country, I was with my English speaking friends and at some point I needed to translate for them.

First trip to Asia

Jul 5, 2003

We traveled again in summer to Asia. In this trip I taught values using English as a second language to children in poor villages. It was a great opportunity to teach what I had learned. We also had adventure days like the one that the picture shows.

Change of career - English teacher

Aug 5, 2003

After this wonderful year I changed my bachelor degree to education with a minor in English. Now I was taking deep English classes in college of how to improve my syntax, grammar, linguistic and phonemic awarness. I also stayed as a volunteer in the missions full time, teaching principles to kids in several schools.

Japan

Jul 1, 2004

We also traveled to Japan, and of course, the language we communicated was English.

China

Jul 5, 2004

We represented Puerto Rico in China as an art dance group. Besides keeping expanding my knowledge in the English language, I also expanded my understanding to other cultures.

More of China

Jul 10, 2004

Working with this kid helped me also understand what I wanted in life.

Israel

Jul 5, 2005

I also had the opportunity to travel to the beautiful and magical country of Israel, where the foundations of my faith took place. Of all my trips this was my favorite; not only because of the country but because my knowledge in English was a lot better that I can keep up with a conversation without stopping. And not only that but all this trips exposed me to other languages like russian and hebrew. I loved it!

My great blessing!

Jul 15, 2012

I had traveled to many parts in the US which it has helped me to improve more my spoken English, and also as a teacher when I teach I keep on reviewing grammar, vocabulary, spelling and syntax rules. But thanks God I also have someone who makes me practice every day, and that's my boyfriend. He is from Colorado state and he is awesome! I'm planning to move to the states soon, so I guess my English will keep on improving more and more.