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Eighth grade at Shaker Middle, we met with our
counselors and chose what classes we would take next year at the high
school. I had been taking French those past two years and it wasn't
going well. I wanted to take a language I felt I would enjoy and more
importantly use. With China becoming a growing world power in all
types of industries, it seemed like the most practical for future use.
So I started my freshman year of high school and at the beginning, it
was relatively easy, learning words like thank you and goodbye. But as
the year went on the words and characters got harder and harder.
Learning Chinese is really like learning two languages. You learn how
to speak and how to write; unlike other languages like Latin or French
which are really only speaking and grammar based. Nonetheless, I was
able to make it through with the help of my wonderful teacher Miss
Luling Li who challenges all of her students and makes us successful.
That is why every year; so many Chinese language students participate
in the Confucius Classroom teacher's appreciation day at Cleveland
State. It is so encouraging seeing so many students from so many
different schools perform on the stage, to know that we all are
learning Chinese at different levels, and to appreciate the diversity
of students. Now in my junior year of high school, Chinese this year
is very hard, but I know it will all be worth it when I can use what I
learned in Chinese class in college and beyond.
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