100% done language study?
For months and months you’ve been watching the little bar on the sidebar of this blog. It illustrated the progress of our language studies at the university in Cuernavaca. Finally, in late spring, it reached 100%. Celebration! But what does that actually mean?
Well, in practical terms it meant that we had finished our studies at the university, and were ready to move on to our "Orientation Year" which we are now beginning. We were finished because we had completed (in theory) a certain level of Spanish, which meant that we (supposedly) could figure out how to basically express our thoughts using correct Spanish grammar.
Sounds good right? Well, slow down cowboy. What does that really mean? Where are we, the Cottrills, at – in real life?
It means that, one day I can carry on a 15 minute conversation with someone. The next day I stand baffled at the checkout counter while the cashier tries to ask me something simple (like "do you have 1 peso so I can give you a 50 peso bill in change?").
It means that I can have a great conversation with a friend, and afterward realize I meant to say,"Maybe you can visit my house" but really said,"We all visited my house".
It means I may have a good vocabulary when it comes to cooking, but not know the word for "stir".
My brain works in mysterious ways, and my Spanish ability varies drastically from day to day. I learn things well, but usually need to hear them first a huge number of times, and then after all that I’ll still forget when I need the word the most! I’m sure a lot of you out there know what I’m talking about.
So yes, we’ve come a long way. And no, we’re not fluent comfortable Spanish speakers. We’ve had more than one person tell us that it was about 5 years before they really were able to comfortably carry on regular conversations. 3 years, 3 months to go! 😉
Thankfully, our leadership considers this year (orientation year) to be a language learning year. It gives us a chance to get out of the school where everyone TALKS VERY CLEARLY, to the "real world" where we have no clue what anyone is talking about (with all their accents, "improper" Spanish, idioms, word play, incomplete words and sentences…).
We will most likely try to work with a tutor for most of this year as well, to continue our more formal language study on top of the regular conversations and interactions we have every day. Hannah and Nathanael will also be continuing school in Spanish.
So now that I’ve explained that, I’ll have to put something new in the sidebar for you to watch!
22 August 2008 @ 12:58 pm
That was a great explaination of the language learning process. Thanks for the examples and painting a picture of the reality of it all. Ken
22 August 2008 @ 11:20 pm
It’s quite a lo-o-ng process, this business of really learning to be fluent in another language, and to be able to understand people in “real life.” Wow! 5 years! And yet, from my limited experience with learning some French in High School I find I remember some of the vocabulary well, other words I forget. And, even trying to follow a speech in French, EVEN with a translator, is a huge challenge! I can see that language learning is a very big part of a missionary’s transition to a new country, with its’ culture differences as well. But, just as He’s helped you this far, God will continue to do so until you are truly fluent and confident in Spanish in Mexico! So take heart! “You’ve come a long way baby!”
23 August 2008 @ 2:46 am
My brain also has a hard time with language. I have been living in Kenya for almost 4 years now and my Swahili is terrible. My wife on the other hand is great, and my kids pretty much fluent.