English as A Fourth Language
My Journey through Unseen Forces and the Exploration of Anglo-Saxon Soft Power
For the past couple of years, most of my work interactions have been with individuals born in America. They are generally very open, cultured, experienced, and have often traveled extensively. Some of them have experienced life abroad and are familiar with other ways of life, especially if they worked and lived abroad for years. However, there is still something I feel they fail to fully grasp.
The power of language, especially the English language, has an irresistible and overpowering appeal. I initially resisted it, but here I am. Let me explain what I mean.
I grew up in France. Despite being an immigrant from Russia, I adapted seamlessly to the French way of life, which (spoiler alert) is intricately linked to living and communicating in French. I spent seventeen years in France, starting at around age seven.
During my school years, in terms of foreign languages, I actually focused on learning German. This was partly due to the influence of French-German language programs promoted in both countries to foster post-war renewed friendship. But more importantly, it was because my family had a close friendship with a German family living in France. Their dad worked in cooperation with the French army, something related to helicopters. Because it was directly related to my life, I had a much stronger interest in learning German since it was the mother tongue of my childhood best friend.
No “VOST”
I had limited interest in the English and the Anglo-Saxon world. My generation, French kids of the 90s, did watch Hollywood movies on TV, but they were dubbed in French. It took some time to realize that these movies were actually made in another country: the United States. The voices were added on top, recorded later by French voice actors. For the longest time, I didn't even notice that the voices didn't always match the mouths of the American actors. The first time I realized this, it didn't blow my mind; I felt an awkward indifference. Watching movies with subtitles, known in France as movies in “VOST” (Version originale sous-titrée: original version with subtitles), was something for adults or intellectuals watching channels no kid found interesting: Arte, TV5, or TMC (TeleMonteCarlo).
My First Taste of California
In April 1997, my family traveled to Bakersfield, California, to visit my mom’s friend from our hometown in Russia. This was my first time in the U.S. The trip left a profound impact because it was my initial experience with the country that would become my home a decade later. Imagine a teenage girl going through full-blown, uncomfortable puberty, meeting cool Californian kids at a private school for the first time, and no words can come out of your mouth. You can’t communicate verbally at an age that's all about self-expression.
Lost in Verbal Wilderness
I found myself spending two to three weeks attending a private school in Cali during what was a vacation break in France. Initially, I couldn't speak or understand English at all. It was an uncomfortable time, as adolescence is already a phase of significant change, where you often feel like you don't quite fit in physically or mentally. Now, I was in a foreign place where I couldn't even conceal my discomfort, and it was clear that I was an outsider. However, despite the initial challenges, there was a unique brightness in the environment. Coming from the sunny region of France, I was familiar with a certain warmth, but the warmth I experienced from the people there was different. At first, like Hollywood or Disneyland, it appeared somewhat artificial, but the authenticity of the people shone through, transcending the superficial.
L'Âge ingrat
That tender age, when it's only natural to experience times of “rebellious rejection” of some sorts. For me, it's something I associate with my discovery of music. In France, we didn't have MTV until the early 2000s, and it was a paid channel. Paying for TV or having cable was very uncommon at the time, and my household didn't have it. So, I listened to the radio. I discovered new music there and had to be savvy in recording cassette tapes from the radio or getting copies elsewhere. When my first boyfriend shared bootleg recordings of Deftones with me, I got hooked. What’s more, they’re from California. I had a long-distance relationship for years. We would maintain it by exchanging letters where we talked about some of our shared music discoveries (Prodigy, Daft Punk, etc.). I lived in the south of France, he in the northwest. In the south, French rap, hip-hop, and pop were the norm, but over time, it bored me. I just didn't relate. Discovering this new and different (not really rock not really metal) sound transported me to another place I could escape to, and it changed everything.
The English lyrics
If you're a native English speaker, you've likely never experienced the eerie sensation of falling in love with music solely for its “vibe” or the emotions it conveys, all without comprehending the lyrics. Real universal exception is classical music. Another I can think of, with lyrics, is “Gangnam Style” even though I wouldn’t push the “falling love” part. The reality is that most influential music, cinema, and popular culture, in general, are predominantly anglophone. It was during this time that my journey to find motivation for learning English truly took root. As I mentioned earlier, navigating an American school with fellow teenagers and struggling to connect with them posed one significant hurdle. Another challenge I faced was my inability to decipher what Chino Moreno was whispering when he wasn't belting out lyrics with all his might. This proved to be quite the test for a kid like me.
My third breakthrough occurred when I delved into the TV series “Lost”. Someone shared a hard drive containing the seasons I had missed, albeit without French subtitles. Back then, the term 'FOMO' hadn't yet gained its current definition, but in hindsight, that's precisely what it was.
Bridging Worlds: My Transformation through English
Ultimately, my journey to grasp the power of the English language continued when I relocated to the East Coast in 2008, immersing myself in life and work in my adopted country. Through these immersive experiences, I began to truly comprehend the irresistible allure of the English language and its pivotal role in shaping global culture. While I may have initially resisted its influence during my formative years, I have since grown to deeply appreciate the depth and reach of English as a means of communication and connection with people from all corners of the world. Knowing languages beyond English is a distinct advantage; it's akin to holding a set of keys to numerous doors that can be unlocked anytime, or even better, it's akin to possessing a “multipass” that grants access to the rich tapestry of our interconnected world.