My Language Journey

Summary

Jordan Griffin, a student from a small town in Kentucky, shares his journey of learning to teach English as a second language. His story takes us through his life-changing experience in China, where he improved his Chinese language skills while studying in Shanghai and traveled extensively. From Beijing to Xi'an, he embraced Chinese culture, history, and life skills, making lifelong friends and unforgettable memories.

Takeaways

• 📚 Jordan Griffin is a student at UNCG studying to teach English to speakers of other languages.
• 🏘️ Jordan hails from London, Kentucky, a small town with a population of 8,000, contrasting with Greensboro's 287,000 residents.
• 🌏 In 2014, Jordan studied in Shanghai, China, a city much larger than Greensboro, with a population ratio of 1:85.
• 🌐 Jordan's initial Chinese language skills were not strong, and he attended classes with classmates from diverse countries.
• 🤝 The students used both English and Chinese to communicate, which helped them improve their Chinese language skills over time.
• 🏞️ Jordan traveled extensively in China, visiting Beijing, Sitang, Yangzhou, the Shaolin Monastery, and Xi'an, among other places.
• 🤸‍♂️ He observed monks practicing kung fu and hanon at the Shaolin Monastery, which was a memorable cultural experience.
• 🎉 Jordan spent Chinese New Year in Yangzhou, experiencing a significant cultural event.
• 🗺️ His travels also included visiting the world's largest standing Buddha in Sichuan and exploring the ancient Silk Road city of Xi'an.
• 🍲 Jordan enjoyed the local food and pleasant weather in Chengdu, highlighting the culinary diversity of China.
• 🚇 Through his experiences, Jordan learned not only the Chinese language but also about Chinese history, culture, and practical life skills such as using the subway and bargaining at markets.

Q & A

Who is the narrator of the story?

The narrator is Jordan Griffin.

What is Jordan Griffin's current field of study?

Jordan Griffin is studying to teach English to speakers of other languages at UNCG (University of North Carolina at Greensboro).

Where is Jordan Griffin originally from?

Jordan Griffin is from a small town called London, Kentucky.

How does Jordan describe the population difference between London, Kentucky, and Greensboro?

Jordan explains that for every one person in London, Kentucky, there are 30 people in Greensboro.

What major city in China did Jordan live in during 2014?

Jordan lived in Shanghai, China, in 2014.

How does the population of Shanghai compare to that of Greensboro according to Jordan?

For every one person in Greensboro, there would be 85 people in Shanghai.

What was the initial language barrier Jordan faced in China?

Initially, Jordan did not know Chinese very well, and communication among classmates from different countries was sometimes in English.

What were some of the places Jordan visited in China?

Jordan visited Beijing, Sitang, Yangzhou, the Shaolin Monastery, the ancient city of Xi'an, and Chengdu.

What cultural activities did Jordan participate in during his visit to the Shaolin Monastery?

Jordan watched the monks practice kung fu and hanon at the Shaolin Monastery.

What life skills did Jordan learn while in China?

Jordan learned how to ride the subway and how to bargain for a better price at the market.

How did Jordan's experience in China impact his life?

Jordan's experience in China allowed him to learn Chinese, make friends from around the world, and gain knowledge about Chinese history, people, culture, and food.

Outlines

00:00

🌏 Cultural Transition and Language Learning in China

Jordan Griffin, a student at UNCG specializing in teaching English to non-native speakers, shares his transformative journey to China. Born in the small town of London, Kentucky, with a population of just 8,000, he contrasts this with the significantly larger Greensboro, home to 287,000 people. In 2014, he experienced an even greater leap in scale by moving to Shanghai, a city with a population density 85 times that of Greensboro. Initially struggling with the Chinese language, Jordan found himself in a diverse international classroom, where English and Chinese were both used as means of communication. Despite the initial challenges, his language skills and cultural understanding improved as he and his classmates traveled and explored various regions of China.

🏞️ Exploring China's Rich Heritage and Landscapes

Jordan's adventures took him to numerous iconic locations across China. He visited Beijing, the nation's capital, and the serene river town of Sitang. He experienced Chinese New Year in Yangzhou, witnessed the disciplined practices of Shaolin monks in their monastery, and stood in awe before the world's largest standing Buddha in UC. His travels also led him to Xi'an, an ancient city on the Silk Road, and to Chengdu, known for its pleasant weather and delicious cuisine. Each visit not only enriched his understanding of Chinese history and culture but also enhanced his language proficiency, enabling him to navigate the city and enjoy life with increasing ease.

🤝 Embracing Life Skills and Global Friendships

Throughout his time in China, Jordan cultivated essential life skills such as subway navigation and market bargaining. His experiences were not just limited to academic and linguistic growth but extended to the formation of lasting friendships with people from around the world. He immersed himself in the Chinese way of life, learning about its history, people, and culinary traditions. The narrative concludes with Jordan reflecting on the unforgettable experience that has undoubtedly left a profound impact on his life.

Keywords

💡UNCG

UNCG stands for the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where Jordan Griffin is a student. It is significant in the script as it establishes the educational background of the narrator and the context for his journey to China. The mention of UNCG sets the stage for understanding the personal growth and academic pursuit of the narrator.

💡ESOL

ESOL refers to 'English for Speakers of Other Languages,' which is the field of study that Jordan Griffin is pursuing. This is central to the video's theme as it explains the narrator's motivation for learning and teaching languages, and it is directly related to his experience in China where he learned Chinese.

💡Cultural Exchange

Cultural exchange is the process of learning about and understanding different cultures through interaction. In the script, Jordan's experience in China exemplifies cultural exchange as he interacts with classmates from various countries and immerses himself in Chinese culture, which is a key aspect of the video's narrative.

💡Shanghai

Shanghai is a city in China where Jordan lived during his time there. It is used in the script to illustrate the scale of the city compared to his hometown and Greensboro, emphasizing the cultural and environmental shift he experienced. Shanghai is also a symbol of China's rapid development and modernity.

💡Language Barrier

The language barrier refers to the difficulty in communication due to differences in languages. In the script, Jordan mentions the initial challenge of not knowing Chinese well, which is a common theme in stories of international travel and study, highlighting the universality of the struggle and the eventual triumph over language difficulties.

💡Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year is a significant cultural festival in China, marking the beginning of the lunar new year. Jordan's experience of spending the Chinese New Year in Yangzhou is a notable event in the script, showcasing his immersion in Chinese traditions and customs.

💡Shaolin Monastery

The Shaolin Monastery is a Buddhist temple renowned for its monks' martial arts skills. Jordan's visit to the Shaolin Monastery and watching the monks practice kung fu and hanon is an example of his exposure to and appreciation for Chinese martial arts, an integral part of Chinese culture.

💡Ancient Silk Road

The Ancient Silk Road refers to a historical network of trade routes that connected China with the West. Jordan's visit to the city of Xi'an, which was an important stop on the Silk Road, represents his exploration of China's historical significance and his broadened understanding of global trade and cultural exchange.

💡Buddha Statue

The Buddha statue mentioned in the script is the world's largest standing Buddha, located in UC, which is likely a mispronunciation or abbreviation for a specific location. This keyword represents Jordan's encounter with religious and cultural landmarks, further emphasizing the theme of cultural exploration.

💡Chengdu

Chengdu is a city in China known for its pleasant weather and cuisine. Jordan's enjoyment of the weather and food in Chengdu is a testament to his appreciation for local experiences and the diversity of Chinese regional cultures.

💡Life Skills

Life skills refer to the practical abilities necessary for everyday life. In the script, Jordan mentions learning how to ride the subway and bargain at the market, which are examples of the life skills he acquired during his time in China. These skills are important for adapting to a new environment and are a key part of the personal growth depicted in the video.

Highlights

Jordan Griffin is a student at UNCG learning to teach English to speakers of other languages.

Born in London, Kentucky, a small town with a population of 8,000.

Contrasts the population of London with Greensboro, highlighting a significant change.

Moved to Shanghai, China, in 2014, a city much larger than Greensboro.

Shanghai's population is 85 times that of Greensboro's.

Initially struggled with the Chinese language.

Classmates were from diverse countries, creating a multilingual learning environment.

Used both English and Chinese to communicate with classmates.

Chinese language skills improved over time through consistent practice.

Visited Beijing, the capital city of China.

Experienced Chinese New Year in Yangzhou.

Witnessed monks practicing kung fu at the Shaolin Monastery.

Explored the ancient Silk Road city of Xi'an.

Saw the world's largest standing Buddha in UC.

Enjoyed the pleasant weather and food in Chengdu.

Learned about Chinese history, people, culture, and food.

Acquired life skills such as riding the subway and bargaining at the market.

Made unforgettable friends from around the world.

The experience in China was life-changing and unforgettable.

Transcripts

hi there my name is jordan griffin

i'm a student now at uncg learning how

to teach

english to speakers of other languages

this is my story about my trip to china

i was born in a little town called

london kentucky

there are only 8 000 people that live

there compare that to greensboro

where there are 287 000 people

that means that for every person in

london kentucky

there are 30 people in greensboro talk

about a big change

in 2014 i went to school in an even

bigger place

china i lived in a city called shanghai

which is even bigger than greensboro

just so you know

for every one person in greensboro there

would be 85 people in shanghai

now i didn't know chinese very well at

first my classmates were also from many

different countries

philippines mexico japan germany

bolivia north korea and more

we were all there for one reason to

learn chinese

but because our chinese wasn't great and

we come from all different places

sometimes we used english to communicate

and sometimes we use chinese

if we knew how even though it was hard

at first

our chinese slowly got better and better

and we were able to travel to more and

more places

some of the places i visited are the

capital city beijing

river town called sitang

i spent chinese new year in the city of

yangzhou

i visited the shaolin monastery and

watched the monks practice kung fu

and hanon

[Laughter]

i also went to the ancient silk road

city of

xi'an

i visited the world's largest standing

buddha

in uc

and finally i enjoyed the nice weather

and food in

chengdu

as i visited more places i learned more

and more

and my chinese always improved a little

each time

soon i was able to get around the city

and live life happily in no time

in the end i was finally able to learn

chinese

and i met friends from all over the

world who i'll never forget

i learned about chinese history people

culture

food and even learned some life skills

like

how to ride the subway or how to

bargain for a better price at the market

it was certainly an experience i will

never ever forget