Is there anything more frustrating than language
learning for cross-cultural workers? My brain has been permanently addled by
the languages I’ve studied. I’m a French teach who no longer speaks French. I
used to be a totally fluent Spanish speaker, but now I stumble a bit. I’m more
comfortable speaking Turkish.
My experience with Turkish goes back 13 years. I
remember my first teacher, a 65 year old lady who peered at me through glasses
that magnified her eyes. She would make me repeat the same words and phrases 20
times, even when I had no idea how I was saying it wrong. I had to repeat everything
until she was satisfied I’d gotten it. After
13 years I still find myself stumbling through Turkish word order and prefixes.
I have to think back to how I started a sentence in order to finish it, and often
everything comes out garbled, but people understand me anyway.
Language learning can be a headache for many
reasons. Sometimes there’s no language school; perhaps the language you’re
learning is extremely different than your own. (Spanish was much easier to
learn than Turkish, but I’m glad I don’t have to deal with Arabic or Chinese.) Parents
of small children barely have time for language study. It’s especially frustrating to live in a
country several years yet still struggle to speak the language.
Suggestions for the Journey:
Keep a Positive Outlook
Enjoy as many things as you can about your new
country even though you may not know the language perfectly yet. Resist the temptation to constantly evaluate
yourself in terms of your progress in language learning. Relax, and be patient with yourself. Remember
that you’re God’s child, and He loves you and has great plans for you, not
matter how well you speak Farsi or Spanish or German.
Don’t Play the Comparison Game
It’s tempting to compare yourself with others who
speak better than you do, especially if they’ve been living in-country for the
same amount of time you have. Everyone has different gifts and callings, and
God can use us all, regardless of our language skills. I’ve met workers here who
barely speak Turkish, but manage to share God’s love effectively.
Think Long Term
Remember that language learning is a marathon
activity, the fruit of patient diligence over years. Sooner or later you’ll get it.
Keep Going
Do a little every day, and be consistent. Even if
you are caring for small children, purpose to set aside a half hour for study
each day. Try 15 minutes of reading or watch
one half hour of television. Small steps
over time lead to big improvements. Slow and steady wins the race.
It you are juggling home schooling or caring for
small children with language learning, you deserve a gold medal, so pat
yourself on the back. Join me next week
for more ideas about language learning.
What has your experience been?
You may also enjoy: How to Survive Your First Year Overseas
7 comments:
I think evaluating your personality goes a long way toward language learning, too. When I began to learn Lavukaleve, I decided to focus on people and narrow domains of garden, cooking, fishing, mostly things women do. Now, even though my language is about even with a two-year-old's vocabulary, I have great friends. And language learning is still difficult, but it's more fun because I'm with friends!
Great encouragement especially since my brain was fried last night after trying to translate for a friend in my not so go local language. My challenge is that I teach all day in English so have to make an extra effort to speak the local language. Hopefully this summer I can put extra time into this. For now, I will take your suggestion of 15 to 30 minutes a day to work on what I can.
i needed this positive outlook, Olive Tree. i was just praying with not such a good attitude about the possibility of eventual work in a nearby country that would require learning another language. i'm not eager to tackle it, but your post is a reminder that it's doable. ;)
"Think Long Term." I often tell myself that I will finally be able to speak perfectly, no accent at all, when I get to heaven!
I feel sorry for the folks who came after the quake and believed that there were much more important things to do rather than focus even a short time each day on language. Now 3 years later they know just enough to get by and cannot connect well with the people. Many leave because of this. Yes think Long term-nothing like close friends who can help you after years to continue to correct, refine and learn new words. This all helps you connect even better!
Wow! These are all such great comments. Each of you could write a great blog post for sure. Kris, I think you're right that not being able to connect/speak is a factor in people leaving.
Barbara, I can only IMAGINE how you feel at the mere possibility of tranferring to a new place and language. May the Lord be in control of that.
TJ, good luck with the 15 minutes a day!
Language learning has come easier for me on the whole, but it still fries my brain! I have noticed myself not having much sympathy for others who don't learn like me or as quickly...thanks for encouraging us that this is so important, but also giving me more understanding for those to whom it doesn't come as easily.
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