Language school is intense. One teacher two pupils, Dar & me. Lots of attention to every syllable that comes out of your mouth. We are both finding we remember way more from college than we expected.
The schedule is pretty serious. M & F we are with the teacher the whole six hours, except for our one break. T & Th we do videos and dvds while another pupil has teacher time in the morning. Afternoons back to us and the teacher. She's a fiesty lady about our age or probably younger; she seems fun, laughs easily. Today we learned the questions we want to ask or need to ask in Spanish, so it's to always be in Spanish now. (yes, after 2 days). Como se dice (How do you say...) Que significa... (what does X mean) etc. I can't keep going I already finished my homework and my brain is tired. Wednesday, did I forget to mention Wednesday? First we have culto - that's Spanish for service as in church service. We will be leading that service in Spanish within the month, something terrifying to look forward to. Then socialize in Spanish with the guests who came for culto. Then an hour of all the past and present students asking the teacher questions/clarifying things. Something else social I forget right now, and we end it up with an academic video regarding Spain. We don't just watch these videos. Watch twice, read the transcript, watch again. Take each paragraph and write down each word you don't know, look it up, and memorize it. And watch the video again. Basically.
The pace of getting things done here (other than studying) is so different. By the time we get out of school and do one thing it ends up being early evening. It's just a slower pace (read that long lines). Supposedly some of this gets better when the tourists go home in September. We've been eating dinner at 8 and 9 the last couple of nights. Perhaps we'll get the hang of the schedule and the pace and be able to plan accordingly. The free time of last week is now gone.
Sounds intense. Makes work seem easier after hearing that.
ReplyDeleteI am pretty sure that I could not get the hang of living somewhere that doesn't have the same pace as the U.S. generally has. I am sure that works both ways. It would be hard to go from one to the other, though.
Mr. T has taught/studied a lot about closure and non closure cultures. I find it interesting to hear you speak about all the social things and the expectations around them. Definately makes me aware of how accurate the descriptions he's given in classes were. ***some of you might have taken the seminar from Wayne Shabaz at Evangel. Mr. T guest spoke at that one year! Pretty cool stuff.
ReplyDeleteIt would be a big adjustment for me to eat dinner at 8 or 9 pm. I would have to snack a lot. : )
ReplyDeleteI know of some missionaries to Mexico that are in the states now. The wife had a hard time learning Spanish. She got sick and with the troubles with the language I am wondering if they are going to get back in the field. I never realized how intense this language school thing would be.
T, I remember hearing about the Shabaz seminar. My roommate went to it.
I really enjoyed the Shabaz seminar too. I went twice. I always thought it would be useful in my marketing career. And I think it would have, had I stayed more current in the marketing field.
ReplyDeleteMr. T, please elaborate on Shabaz and non closure cultures, or just send me a link with the info. I need it. TX!!!
ReplyDeleteYou will have to give us new words so we can learn along with you!!!
ReplyDeleteHere's a word for you. They use lavabo or servicios (serveetheeos) for bathroom not bano! Surprise for me. Bano is apparently Sud Americano. They know what you mean but they know you're not from around here. Like asking for toilette at home probably.
ReplyDelete...good to know for when we come to visit.
ReplyDelete