Ta-Nehisi Coates: "How Learning a Foreign Language Reignited My Imagination"

Coates begins by recounting a feeling of wonder he had as a young man. Then, he notices how that feeling of wonder seems to have faded a couple dozen years later. To recapture that feeling, he finds that deep immersion in an unfamiliar language re-inspires his creative spirit.

As you read this, consider some of the comparisons Coates makes, and consider the significance of starting his essay with a brief autobiographical episode. Think about your feelings of wonder: what do you like and dislike about writing, and how does that like and dislike compare and connect to other aspects of you life.

Use the forum at the end of this module to discuss your reactions.