3+2 is not 5

• LANGUAGE BIOGRAPHY

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My name is Begoña Cercós, and I was born in a sunny day of the summer of 1996. It was 16th of August.

 

I define myself as a bilingual person. At home, I usually use Catalan Language, but it depends to whom I am talking with. For example, my brother uses only Spanish, so when I talk with him I always speak Spanish. On the other hand, my father speaks Valencian, so when I am talking with him, both of us use this Language. My mother can speak Valencian or Spanish, so when she is with my father and I, she speaks Valencian, and when she is with my brother she uses Spanish. With my friends it happens the same. I speak both, Spanish and Catalan, depending on the mother tongue of the other person.

 

When I was six I started to learn English at school, in my regular lessons. Early, my parents realized how important is English in our society, so they decided that my brother and I have to take private lessons as well. When I was twelve I started to learn German at school as well, but I only studied it during two years and only grammatical skills, so now I can only remember a few words in this language. I did an exchange with a German High School when I was in third of Secundary School, but I spoke in English with my partner, because of my low level of German. Then, at University, I have made an Erasmus in Oslo, Norway. There I spoke English as well.

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• LANGUAGE PASSPORT

 

-Catalan --> mother tongue.

-Spanish --> mother tongue.

-English --> L2

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--> Listening: I considerer myself to have a B2 level, because “I can understand extended speech and lectures and follow even complex lines of argument provided the topic  is reasonably familiar. I can understand most TV news and current affairs programmes.  I can understand the majority of films in standard dialect”

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--> Reading: I considerer myself to have a C1 level, because “I can understand long and complex factual and literary texts, appreciating distinctions of style. I can understand specialised articles and longer technical instructions, even when they do not relate to my field.”

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--> Spoken interaction: I considerer myself to have a B2 level, because “I can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible.  I can take an active part in discussion in familiar contexts, accounting for and sustaining my views.”

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--> Spoken production: I considerer myself to have a B2, because “I can present clear, detailed descriptions on a wide range of subjects related to my field of interest. I can explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options.”

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--> Writing: I considerer myself to have a B2, because “I can write clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects related to my interests. I can write an essay or report, passing on information or giving reasons in support of or against a particular point of view. I can write letters highlighting the personal significance of events and experiences.”

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• LANGUAGE DOSSIER

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Here I would like to post a brief story that I wrote when I was sixteen. I know that is not a really good story but for me it was special because when I wrote it I felt really proud and I do not know why but I always remember this story. So, here it is, for you!

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"As soon as I saw the hand writing on the envelope, I smiled. I started to remember all the summers that we spent together. I remembered the excursions to the mountain, the days fishing in the river, our snacks at the beach... And I smiled, again.

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I took the letter and I come back home. It was such a strange coincidence, but when I come into my room, there was a song playing, and the lyrics said 'I can still recall, our last summer, I still see it all...' I smiled for the third time, I really love this song.

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Then, I opened my blue box and searched for a photo. When I found it, I had a sit on the floor, holding the letter with one hand, and the picture with the other. I was so nervous and excited that my hands were shaking. I couldn't open the letter, I didn't want to open it. The last words that my grandmother wrote to me were there, but I wanted to wait a moment before reading them.

 

'Memories that remain...', sang the song, and I opened the letter, and smiled, again."

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