Tuesday 16 July 2013

How do you think?? - Problem when you stay overseas for a period of time

I had watched a YouTube video quite a while ago, and currently it has popped up on my recommendation page again, therefore today I would like to talk about it. The video is at the end of this post, but it is in Cantonese and English, sorry that if you could not understand the languages. And thanks [A] for having such a topic. 

Staying in Australia nearly 4 years, and because of my degree and the church that I go to, I seldom meet people who speak in my language - Cantonese. I do have some of them speak in Cantonese, however I mostly speak English to them as well. In my mindset, when you stay in places which officially speak English, you should speak English, no matter where the person you are speaking with from, except they can barely speak English. Therefore, within this 4 years, I mostly speak in English. Moreover, I just SOMETIMES talk and text my parents, I actually feel like the Language Level of my Cantonese is decreasing, both writing and speaking.  

Here is my situation: 

Counting: Cantonese (MUST)
Thinking: Mostly English right now, except in-depth topics
Thinking bad things or ideas: Cantonese
Calculations: Cantonese
Reading: Read English articles more; seldom read in Chinese, however MUST read comics in Chinese 
Writing: English
Texting: English, except to parents 
Talking: English, except to parents and friends in Hong Kong
Talk to myself: 80% English; 20% Cantonese (while reading/seeing something in Chinese) 

Anything that I have left out?? I could not think of it right now, maybe you can remind me by leaving me some comments. But anyhow, this is one of the problems that I found myself stuck in while staying overseas for a certain period of time. The GOOD thing is I know that my English had improved gradually and I am trying my best to increase my word bank these day. However, I feel like now I am in the middle of nowhere. As I seldom speak Cantonese and write in Chinese, my skills are getting blunt. On the other hand, my English did improve, but still not native or professional like. There are still lots of areas that I can improve on. GOSH!! I am losing my native Cantonese ability while trying to survive in my limited English skill. Later maybe I am not skilful in any of the languages. It's SCARY!!!

Now I better keep up with both language, otherwise I will look like an idiot lol


Love, 
Vagrantgirl



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