Final Post - The End of a Class and Reflections

I will take home many things in a sense. I mean the class had many thought provoking and insightful things of discussion. Some of the readings were that way as well. The main thing I will take home though is the concept of language, what its true meanings and usages are, and how different languages and different ways of speaking the same language have so many diverse meanings as well. I mean a perfect example was before when I went to Japan I never realized that it's not only a different language but in Japan or here in America we not only speak a different language than everyone else, but we think in a different way as well. We use words to describe and put meanings on things, and in a different language like Japanese they do the same thing, they describe and think in a certain way that is different than us. I mean I know we both have different languages but I liked the concept of thinking in a different way or thinking in your languages way of thinking. This class opened my eyes to that idea much more, and now I have a broader concept on something so huge.
When it comes to the final project I will try and hone in on how Japanese exchange students think, when it comes to using English and being in America. I want to see where they are coming from and try to put that down on paper. I would like to ask questions about slang, language in the classroom versus language in the real world and others similar to those.
Yes I will apply many of the concepts like sometimes you need to try and see how things are below the surface instead of just seeing them how you think they are. Like see what the language is really saying not just what you see.
Yes, at first I didn't want to take this course but after looking back I like how it was set up, the discussions were awesome, the assignments and readings really made us think, and yes like others in the class I didn't show up. When I did, however, I tried to take as much from the presentations and talks as possible with me after I left class and went into the real world.

Thanks for the great semester and I wish the best of you luck,

JHill