Today is the last of my Spanish lessons. It’s been fun and I think I’ve made some progress but there is so much to learn. I’ve been thinking a bit about the experience of being a language learner, and I believe it’s an experience every teacher should undergo periodically. It’s humbling.
Some thoughts on being a language learner:
1. I’m a loser!
When learning a new language, especially as an adult, you’re an idiot, a dimwit, an inarticulate person with nothing of interest to say. In interactions, you mostly just smile stupidly when people ask you questions, and you answer even more stupidly, if you answer at all.
2. I’m a john.
I have to pay for conversation. And, language teachers are somewhat like escorts. They have an allure and even an elegance when they use the language and I, on the other hand, am bumbling and awkward in Spanish. And my teacher has an interest in making her client feel good. I pay her to talk with me because that’s the only way I can get Spanish conversation. And that makes sense. In Spanish, I have nothing of interest to say and I’m painful to listen to. Why would anyone want to talk to me?
3. I’m speaking the wrong language.
It’s been many years since I spoke Arabic with any fluency and my recent experiences with Syrian immigrants in Canada showed me that I have huge gaps in my vocabulary. But now, when I’m in the market and want to quickly say something in Spanish, it’s Arabic phrases that come out. Arabic has not been a useful language in Guatemalan markets.
Here’s a photo of Maestra Clara giving both of us our certificates. As you can see, we’re very proud to receive them.
