{"id":4837,"date":"2016-11-02T06:56:07","date_gmt":"2016-11-02T10:56:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/language-news\/?p=4837"},"modified":"2020-10-01T13:43:39","modified_gmt":"2020-10-01T17:43:39","slug":"transparent-language-online-user-spotlight-kevin-barr-usmc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/language-news\/2016\/11\/02\/transparent-language-online-user-spotlight-kevin-barr-usmc\/","title":{"rendered":"Transparent Language Online User Spotlight: Kevin Barr, USMC"},"content":{"rendered":"

The winner of last month\u2019s Library Card Sign-up Month photo contest<\/a> is\u2026 Kevin Barr!<\/strong> Kevin\u2019s photo submissions came all the way from Iwakuni, Japan, where he is stationed with the US Marine Corps. We were curious to see a Marine like Kevin is learning Indonesian with us, so we exchanged a few emails to find out more.<\/p>\n

\"barrwire\"<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Transparent Language:\u00a0<\/strong>How long have you been serving in the Marine Corps?\u00a0What is your MOS (military occupation specialty)?<\/p>\n

Kevin Barr:<\/strong> I have been serving in the Marine Corps since June\u00a02014 and am currently stationed in Japan.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

TL:<\/strong>\u00a0Where are you from and what languages did you speak\/learn growing up?<\/p>\n

KB:<\/strong> I was born and\u00a0raised\u00a0in\u00a0Fredericksburg,\u00a0Virginia\u00a0with a Japanese mother and\u00a0a\u00a0white American father. When I was growing up I\u00a0was\u00a0never\u00a0afforded the opportunity\u00a0to learn Japanese, since my father could only speak\u00a0English. We\u00a0only spoke English in the house and never really learned the\u00a0Japanese\u00a0language\u00a0until late into my high school years.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

TL:<\/strong>\u00a0Why are you learning Indonesian now? How long have you been studying?<\/p>\n

KB:<\/strong> I started becoming really\u00a0interested\u00a0in Bahasa\u00a0Indonesia (Indonesian\u00a0Language)\u00a0after\u00a0studying\u00a0about the\u00a0history that\u00a0Indonesia\u00a0had to go through in the past from Dutch colonization, Japanese\u00a0Occupation\u00a0and the rise of Sukarno and Suharto\u00a0that helped to facilitate the modern Indonesian identity we see today.\u00a0That\u00a0really piqued my\u00a0interest\u00a0to learn the language and I started\u00a0studying.\u00a0I started to learn so much more about the lingua franca that Bahasa\u00a0Indonesia is\u00a0that united all the islands together Indonesia.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

TL:<\/strong> How did you hear about Transparent Language? How long have you been using it?<\/p>\n

KB:<\/strong> I asked the base library*\u00a0if there was any way I could\u00a0learn Bahasa\u00a0Indonesia. They\u00a0recommend\u00a0Transparent Language Online. From there\u00a0I\u00a0started studying 35 minutes\u00a0a day using the program. My goal is\u00a0to complete it by the end of this year.\u00a0I have been\u00a0using the program for around 5 months\u00a0and find it to be very useful.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

TL:<\/strong> What is your favorite part about learning with Transparent Language Online?<\/p>\n

KB:<\/strong> I really like how Transparent Language Online\u00a0tracks my\u00a0lessons and\u00a0progress\u00a0daily<\/a>.\u00a0Even if\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0just one word a day\u00a0it is still progress\u00a0compared to\u00a0yesterday. The web\u00a0based interface is amazing because it helps me\u00a0practice\u00a0Indonesian\u00a0language from anywhere I have web access\u00a0without needing additional applications.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

TL:<\/strong> What do you hope to do after the Marine Corps? Does language play a role in your future plans?<\/p>\n

KB:<\/strong> After\u00a0the Marine Corps, I\u2019m applying\u00a0for the Darmasiwa scholarship to\u00a0study Indonesia\u00a0for\u00a0one\u00a0year.\u00a0After studying in Indonesia, I want to teach English to Indonesians\u00a0or try to work with an NGO\u00a0promoting\u00a0U.S and\u00a0Indonesian\u00a0future friendly\u00a0bilateral relations. I wouldn\u2019t have even thought of such dreams before, if it wasn\u2019t for\u00a0Transparent\u00a0Language offering such an amazing program. Thank you for helping improve my life!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Congratulations, Kevin! Other linguistically curious individuals can <\/strong>search here<\/strong><\/a> for a nearby library that offers free access to Transparent Language Online.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\"\"

The winner of last month\u2019s Library Card Sign-up Month photo contest is\u2026 Kevin Barr! Kevin\u2019s photo submissions came all the way from Iwakuni, Japan, where he is stationed with the US Marine Corps. We were curious to see a Marine like Kevin is learning Indonesian with us, so we exchanged a few emails to find…<\/p>\n

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