Language Learning

21st Dec 2007
I just had my first impromptu language lesson! I learnt 2 phrases this morning before I headed off to the markets- the equivalents of good morning (tujimwiche kwali ajetu) and how much (akutenda uli?), then when I got back R- introduced me to all the language learning resources and talked me through what the process would be once we found a language helper for me- basically I’m in for a 3 months intensive. I felt pretty daunted as I went off to read through the MILL (Maximum Impact Language Learning) handbook, then managed a decent procrastination of baking a few batches of Christmas cookies….but then Robyn got back form the hospital with her language helper ‘Mama Dave’ who has just recovered from a bout of malaria. Mama Dave loves teaching and decided now was as good as any time for a language lesson. So we chose 4 items on the coffee table: paper, book, flower and cup. Then we wrote the numbers 1 to 4 on pieces of paper. I’m not meant to speak for the first 40hrs of lessons- that way I don’t have my own, wrong pronunciation competing in my head with the correct one, and I can get really familiar with the sounds and patterns before stage fright kicks in…so, I pointed to objects and she named them, then I introduced numbers – one flower, 2 flowers, three flowers, one cup etc and listed to the changing prefixes and suffixes for each one. Apparently there are classes of verbs in this language, each with their own set of sounds…yay. But what was really exciting was that within 10 minutes, I asked her to test me by randomly saying (in Chiyawo) four papers, two flowers, one cup…and I was actually able to hold up the correct number with the correct item. I can recognize 8 words- (other than ‘thank you’) and my fears have subsided…slightly :)