Showing posts with label language learning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label language learning. Show all posts

Wednesday, 16 April 2014

My new, best worst Czech mistake




When I was MTI receiving my language learning training we were repeatedly told that to learn a language you need to make a thousand mistakes. And if you need to make a thousand mistakes you may as well get over it and start making them as quickly as possible.

We were also encouraged to learn to laugh at ourselves because laughter and joy make the mistakes a lot more funny.

I have two wonderful Czech tutors and I meet with each of them for two hours a week. I added the second tutor in February and it has helped my Czech so much! My time with this tutor is a lot less structured, we don't follow a textbook. This actually gives a lot of freedom - each week I pick what I learn and so I can pick what I feel I need to learn.

Every week we read a story from my little children's Bible. Thankfully there are pictures, and I know the stories. But I am still learning many, many words. After, painfully slowly, reading the story I maybe retell it in my own words and then we talk about how the story applies to our lives what what we can learn from it. My tutor is not a believer so it's a really fun to be talking through these questions.

Well, a couple of weeks ago we read about a miracle and my tutor asked how it was possible for people to get into heaven.

I wanted to say it is only because Jesus died for us.

So, I wanted to say "jen protože Ježíš umřel"

Instead I said "jen protože Ježíš zabil"

umřel: died

zabil: killed or murdered

I said the only reason we can get into heaven is because Jesus killed. My tutor thought it was hilarious and I can definitely see the funny side. I don't think I'll ever make this particular mistake again... but I'm sure there are many, bigger, funnier mistakes in my future.

Saturday, 27 July 2013

Czech Course Complete!




Yesterday I finished my course!  It felt so good to complete it!  We got an official certificate (left) and a university t-shirt (top right) that will join my pyjama top pile as it's four sizes too big.

We did a final test and I got 89/103 so that was very reassuring!  I feel like I'm doing well with the language - aside from things in the class I've been able to have conversations in shops, restaurants etc to help me with everyday life!

The course was 100-hours long and it was very tiring (hello 9pm bedtimes!) but it was so good for me!  It was even fun to spend time with the lovely people on my course.

Of course, I still have a long, long way to go.  Every time I feel like I understand how the endings change they change in a completely different way!  And we have only touched on the beginnings of four of the seven "cases" in the language.  Cases mean something along the line of... the endings of words change depending on whether you are talking about someone, to someone, whether you're in somewhere, or are going to there, or how you're going there.... etc.  Czech friends, I'm sorry for how I explained that - like I said, I've still got a long way to go!

So, a long way to go but an incredible and exciting start in the language!  I'm so grateful for this time in Prague and for the decision for me to complete this language course.

Thank you all for your prayers for energy and my brain throughout this time!


Wednesday, 17 July 2013

I Would Like to Buy a Hamburger

This clip from The Pink Panther is a great representation of what language learning feels like some days!  As I learn to pronounce very different sounds I want to say "but that's what I am saying!" but my teacher disagrees!  




Friday, 5 July 2013

Photo Friday



Saturday - it was crazy good to spend time with the Haskews in England on my two day layover.  And apparently this is the only photo I took!  There's a photo of Jo and I somewhere but these homemade Welsh cakes were pretty amazing!


Sunday - I arrived in Prague!  And took a walk to figure out where my class is held.


This week I'm staying with some fellow JV missionaries, the Chestnuts, and here their dog is helping me study Czech by providing moral support.


Tram lines and blue sky as I waited for the tram home on Tuesday.


Wednesday was a little more rainy - I was amused by my colour co-ordination as I waited for the morning tram.


Thursday - going over just the notes from that day's class!  


Friday - my view of class, taken during the break.

Tuesday, 2 July 2013

Two full days in!

Well, today has been my second full day in Czech, and my second day of my language course.  Things are going really well!

From 9 - 1:15 I have my language course, and sometimes there are afternoon activities.  Yesterday and today though there weren't so I spent time buying stuff I need or studying.  

There are twelve other people from all over the world in my class and we're all there for different reasons.  We've quickly learnt to laugh at ourselves and each other, an important quality as you learn a language and make a million mistakes.

There is so much to learn and go over after class each day, and I'm trying to make the most of this time so dedicated to language learning.  This does mean it's very mentally tiring and, at just 9:25pm I'm writing this blog post but struggling to keep my eyes open and my brain is questioning how I'm spelling each word!  A normal feeling in the language learning process!

I'm so thankful to be here and am loving being in the beautiful city of Prague!  I'm grateful that it feels so normal to be walking around, hopping on trams, buying groceries, making dinner... living life and just being here.

I hope to send out a prayer update soon and please forgive me if I am slower at replying to messages.