Akshitha Venkataraman

Mastering a new language goes beyond vocabulary and grammar; it requires regular practice and cultural immersion. However, without real-world experience, many language learners at UT face the challenge of finding practice partners and authentic cultural experiences. 

The lack of opportunities to practice outside the classroom often hinders learning a new language. Addressing this issue is essential for students to foster a richer language learning environment that helps them achieve fluency and cultural competence. Students must plan events that allow each other to immerse themselves in cultural experiences that will teach them to apply language skills in a real-world context. 

Classroom instruction alone is often deemed insufficient for achieving fluency. Students must partake in regular practice and cultural immersion to truly master a language. 

“It takes way more contact hours to get students to (intermediate or advanced proficiency) than we could ever provide in a four-year university program,” said Thomas Garza, a professor in the Department of Slavic and Eurasian Studies and founding director of the Texas Language Center. 

To tackle this issue, students must implement their own initiatives, such as organizing language events where students can actively apply the language skills they have learned. These activities, such as movie nights, cooking classes and cultural exchange meetups, could provide engaging and interactive opportunities for students to utilize their skills. 

“It’s not just about doing homework, but rather really immersing the student as best we can in the culture as well as the language,” Garza said. 

Despite the benefits, students emphasize the stress and apprehensiveness that comes with speaking a new language. There is a constant worry about making mistakes, feeling embarrassed or not being understood, especially at a beginner level. Christian Hilchey, an associate professor in the Department of Slavic and Eurasian Studies, elaborates on this difficulty.

“It’s tough to go out there … you’re just really putting yourself out there,” Hilchey said. 

However, this fear is precisely what students must overcome to improve their language skills. 

Pushing through this apprehension can be incredibly rewarding. Real-life interactions provide immediate feedback and help students develop a more nuanced understanding of the language and culture. Language events offer a relaxed environment for practicing the language and experiencing the culture. These experiences build confidence and encourage spontaneous use of the language, which is often missing in more controlled environments like classrooms.

Regular practice and cultural immersion are crucial for mastering a new language. By organizing language events, students can take proactive steps to enhance their language learning experience. With a collaborative and student-driven approach, students learning a new language at UT can overcome these challenges and fully embrace the language and culture they are studying.

Chitturi is a statistics and data science sophomore from Houston, Texas.