Ever since she was young, an English student at Universitas Dian Nuswantoro (Udinus), named Retno Nur Octaviani, has shown her interest in learning languages, particularly English. It all started with her mother opening an English mentoring program, with Retno, commonly known as Eno, trailing behind her mother. To her, her mother was the first teacher and a gateway for her to master her English skills.
“My mother taught me English through bedtime stories. Then, when I was old enough for school, I got in touch with books in libraries, films on TV, and songs on the internet,” said Retno, who is a student of the Faculty of Humanities (FIB).
During her high school years, Eno, who was born in 2002 in Tanjungpinang, became more determined to explore this field. To her, English is an interesting field of study, not only for its rich literary potential but also for linguistics. For that reason, Eno became eager to study in the Department of English at Udinus.
Eno’s language skills led her to a wide range of opportunities. Many times, she is trusted to be a Master of Ceremonies (MC) in various events, both within the English department and the campus.
“I have been asked to be an MC in many events requiring English speakers, with the example being a welcome party for foreign volunteers and a signing of MoUs between Udinus and international universities,” she explained.
The Importance of Language Skills
Her experience led Eno to realize that language skills are crucial in the modern era. However, this does not mean one should not uphold their native language. Instead, it is a way for one to open a wide opportunity in the international community.
“There are many opportunities on campus, like internships, volunteer programs, and international jobs. This brings many benefits, pushing students to their new limits, especially when it comes to English skills,” she revealed.
Eno, who happens to be the Chief of the English Students Association at Udinus, revealed several tips for learning English. According to her, listening to music and watching movies are her trump cards in learning English.
In practice, everyone’s preference in learning English is relative. For me personally, I find reading lyrics and dialogs to be effective, as I can see sentence patterns. Not only will this allow me to translate texts, but by doing this, I can also learn aspects, like speaking , listening, and grammar ,” she uttered.
Retno, who was fond of listening to music and exploring cuisines, also highlighted the importance of being wrong. Mistakes are indeed seeds of knowledge, a foundation in a learning process.
“Truth be told, even if our grammar is not on a native level, native speakers can still understand us. So, don’t fear mistakes, and keep learning from them,” she emphasized. (Humas Udinus/Penulis: Ika. Editor: Haris. Foto: Dok. Pribadi)
