I think this assignment was interesting for me as this assignment made me go back to past and recount my experiences of learning the English language. Those experiences are like a lesson to me and guides me on my path.

Mark Biswas

Professor Lobell

Freshman Composition

03/04/2024

I was raised and born in Bangladesh. So, the first language that I learned was Bangla. My parents weren’t that great in English, so they didn’t teach it to me. When I was little my father bought me a computer. The computer system was in English language and all the games were also on English. So, I had learned English mainly from playing games and watching English movies. I was able to speak and understand English way better than my classmates. Even the English teachers wouldn’t speak English that well. Whenever they would ask how I can speak English so well and understand it I would just tell them that I learned it from games. They wouldn’t believe me and say that it’s not true. But it was the truth. I would use voice chat in online games and practice my English speaking with foreigners. While I would play single player games to understand English. When me and my family was moving to the United States, I finally thought to myself that I can use my English skills here where it was the main language. My parents still struggle with understanding and speaking English so they would bring me with them most of the time for important stuff so I can explain to them in Bangla. Even in my high school here I was able to speak English better than many people who were born and raised here. Obviously, they would be surprised too when I tell them that I learned English not by studying but instead playing games. People would also speak in different accents of English so I wouldn’t understand them sometimes. I didn’t know that there were so many different types of English speaking. I guess I still have a lot to learn. I am still trying my best everyday to adapt better to life here. My parents still think that playing games won’t do me much, but I think otherwise. Playing games helped me develop my English and my life easier in the States. Every experience is valuable and useful in different cases. So even if it’s not useful today but someday it will be. You never know when that experience can help you out one day.