— Languages —

I am a native English speaker, and that is the language I am most comfortable using. In addition to English, I also have some proficiency in Spanish, which I learned in school. I can understand and carry on basic conversations in Spanish, but my fluency is not as high as with English. Those are the two main languages I speak.

In the future, I would be really interested in learning Mandarin Chinese. I think it's such an important language globally, and I'd love to be able to communicate with more people around the world. I'm also curious about learning a language like Arabic or Russian, just to expose myself to different cultures and ways of thinking. But Mandarin is probably my top language goal right now.

When learning a new language, I find it's best to use a mix of approaches. Listening to the language, reading simple texts, and practicing conversation are all important. I also try to immerse myself in the culture, whether that's watching shows or listening to music in the language. Consistent practice is key to making progress.

In the schools I attended, foreign languages were usually taught through a combination of classroom instruction, textbook learning, and practice exercises. We'd cover grammar, vocabulary, and conversational skills. The focus was on developing reading, writing, listening, and speaking abilities. Language learning was required for a certain number of years.