The Unspoken Language

By Deirdre Higgins, ESL teacher 

Pasadena Language Center

Los Angeles Unified School District

Write It!   (owner)


A few months ago in class a student approached me; she was distressed about her lack of friends at work.  She was a young Korean woman who had gotten a job in Los Angeles in the art department of a small film company.  She was almost completely fluent in English and that’s why she was frustrated.  Somehow, her ability to speak the language was not enough to create friendships with her peers.   Consequently, she felt lonely and isolated.

I asked her for an example of where she felt things fell apart with her language.   She said that every Monday when she would come to work someone would ask her, “How was your weekend, what did you do?”   She would respond, “I went to shop, I bought a dress… I went out to a nice restaurant with my friend… I saw a movie on TV…”

I explained to her that when people ask those questions, they are more interested in connecting than actually hearing a list of activities.  She then said, “How does one connect?  What part of the language am I not using?”

This got me thinking.  Language is more than vocabulary and grammatical structure.  It’s more than simply knowing all the verb tenses or idiomatic expressions.  It’s more than communicating facts.   Language that really engages people includes facial expressions, physical gestures, pauses, hesitations, intonation, cadence, inflection, and high and low tonal sounds.   Language can sound robotic -- like my young student who was listing her activities as if reciting a laundry list – or, it can be expressive and alive with color, meaning, excitement and emotion.   

Study Spanish in Spain this summer

Are you looking for a great way to spend your summer vacation this year? We have the perfect plan for you: enjoy the beautiful sights of Andalucia and immerse yourself in the Spanish language.

Pasadena Language Center is taking you to Jerez de la Frontera on an educational vacation that will combine studying of the Spanish language and discovering the interesting culture of the southern province of Spain, Cádiz.

The city of Jerez de la Frontera is located in the province of Cádiz in the autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain. Jerez is situated between the sea and the mountains and it is the fifth largest city in Andalusia. It is close to other important cities like Cadiz, Sevilla, Granada or Gibraltar, and to the Atlantic Ocean. There are many cattle ranches and horse-breeding in the region and the city has a world-renowned wine industry.

For more information on the program, please visit us at www.pasadenalanguage.com. You can also contact us at 626-844-5003 or by email at info@pasadenalanguage.com.

Spring Language Celebration

Learning a New Language Keeps you Fit

You have probably read or heard of the benefits of learning a new language. Many doctors recommend their patients to learn a new language in order to prevent Alzheimer's while others recommend it to reduce stress: learning a new language can keep your brain healthy. This can be a challenging task, but it can also be fun and rewarding. If you are thinking about learning Arabic, Spanish, French, Thai, Japanese, Italian, Mandarin or any other foreign language, remember that it needs time and dedication. Have a plan and clear objective to stick to, so that you don't get frustrated when results are not immediate. Learning a new language doesn't happen overnight: it can take anytime between six months to a year to acquire some proficiency. Think about learning a new language as you would exercise; you will increase your vocabulary as you learn and acquire fluency as you practice. In order to stay physically fit, you need to exercise regularly. Yes, it can be difficult, but not unattainable. And yes, your brain needs to stay fit just like your body, so what better way of keeping your brain fit than learning a new language.