Empowering Fluency: The Journey of an English Speaker.

Dive: Linguist - English
Description: Can read, write, speak, and understand English
Level: Level 1
Level Requirements: Can read, write, speak, and understand English at a basic level
Certified On: Apr 2, 2024

Editor’s Note: On all dive certifications, we try to edit the writing as little as possible to preserve authenticity, personality, and writing style. We typically fix spelling errors, but minimally modify grammar and sentence structure (just enough to ensure readability).

Name: Tracey Kedarr Break Diving Level: Recruit Number of Certified Dives: 4 From: Ghana In: Ghana

1. When and Why Did You Decide to Pursue This Dive At This Level? What was your inspiration and motivation?

I learned English as my first language from birth. Both my parents spoke it to me and to each other, so I learned to speak in the English language from very young.

2. How Long Did It Take For You To Accomplish This Dive At This Level From The Day You Decided To Pursue It, And Why Did It Take That Long?

Around 3 years, which is about the average amount of time for babies to start speaking more than a few words at a time, haha...

3. What Was The Hardest Part About Achieving This Particular Dive Level?

Although English was my first language, I generally lacked exposure growing up and so I would often come across words and expressions that I was completely unfamiliar with. My parents would often equate my inability to explain new words to them to a lack of intelligence on my part and I would often receive some sort of "punishment" or severe backlash.

4. What Was The Easiest Part About Achieving This Particular Dive Level?

Because my parents spoke English to me from birth, I picked up on the language without any hassle and never felt like I was struggling to learn a new language.

5. What Is Your Advice For Someone Who Is Pursuing This Dive And Level?

Stick with it when the going gets tough. It'll start to get easier and easier and you'll soon be enjoying the rewards of knowing and understanding the English language.

6. What Are Some Of The Best Resources You Recommend to Those Pursuing This Dive At This Level, And Why Do You Recommend Them? Please Include Relevant Weblinks, If Applicable.

Break Diving is a wonderful platform to meet and interact with English speakers and other English language learners. Some other good resources for learning English are listed below.

Resource 1: Pimsleur - A popular and proficient language learning site with an exhaustive teaching technique and an app for mobile users.

Resource 2: Pimsleur - A variation of Pimsleur above, with a different teaching method and approach to learning a language.

Resource 3: Duolingo - Another popular language learning site with an app for mobile users.

Resource 4: Rocket Languages - A lesser known but sufficiently effective language learning site, also with an app for mobile users.

Resource 5: Memrise - An innovative language learning platform with a gamified flashcard approach and adaptive spaced repetition learning technology.

7. Tell Us A Story Of One Of Your Adventures While Pursuing This Dive (At This Level).

In 2017, I took part in a friendly competition at an event that was organized by Lancaster University in Accra, Ghana. I had heard about the event from an acquaintance who, at the time, had been seeking admission into that university and had asked me to accompany her to the event.

As fate would have it, I had been thinking to myself around that time that I should probably be getting out a little more. I had just gotten out of college and still hadn't managed to build much in terms of a social life. And so I agreed to go.

At the event, I was first blown away by the beautiful setup, and then by the warmth of the other attendees. Although we were all strangers to each other, we worked quite well with and against each other. The faculty members of Lancaster University were also very friendly and there was an assortment of food and drinks available. I was very happy I had come.

Before long, the games began. There were different kinds of competitions from athletic to academic, and attendees were being called upon to participate. I actually hadn't planned to participate in any activity, but my friend was excited about the set of games listed under "English Language Fluency", which included a mini spelling bee, and she pulled me along. Participants were to present in groups of 3, and so we asked a girl to join our group and the three of us went for it!

The competition turned out to be a lot of fun, and even more so when our group finished in first place. It felt great and helped boost my self-esteem (temporarily, lol...). We were presented with some prizes and made to take some photos for Lancaster University's official website. And then it was back to kebabs, smoothies, and lots and lots of butter popcorn : D!

8. What Evidence Did You Submit to Prove You Met the Requirements for This Dive and Level?

This is one of the pictures that was taken for the university's website. I had more (all of which contained more details of the event and which showed my 2 teammates smiling brightly with their prizes), but I've lost them all as this was 7 years ago (in which time I've had 2 laptop HDDs crash).
I present this photo along with the answers I've provided on this form as evidence to the fact that I can read, write, speak, and understand English at a basic level.

9. Will You Be Pursuing The Next Level For This Dive? If Yes, Why? If Not, Why Not?

Yes. English is definitely an international language and I will keep bettering myself in it, and keeping up with the language as it evolves and grows.

10. What is the Break Diver's Creed?

No Rules. No Excuses. No Regrets.

Certificate photo:

And having made this post, and provided adequate evidence to the dive committee, Tracey Kedarr is now hereby certified by Break Diving, Inc. as: Linguist - English - Level 1. Congratulations ! Thank you for being an inspiration to others!

Certificate number: 206

The author above wrote this WYSEguidance post as one of the certification requirements to become certified by Break Diving, Inc. for a dive completed. Would you also like to find greater success, happiness, and friendship, and make genuine supportive connections with others around the world pursuing your same dreams? Come join us at Break Diving and soon your story will be the next one you read about on this site!

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