Language LearningPatti - January 18, 2018
Learning a new language is like climbing a mountain. I am not the first to make this comparison, nor will I be the last. Sometimes the going is easy and enjoyable, and the view is incredible. Other times you can barely put one foot in front of the other, and you wonder why you ever decided to climb this mountain in the first place.
I wrote a post last September about my German-learning climb, but I never published it because I was so discouraged by how little progress I had made since moving here. My three years of German courses in college accompanied by everyone’s assurances that I would “pick it up in no time” once I was immersed in the culture caused me to opt out of language school once I actually got to Switzerland. But there were two problems: (1) Switzerland actually speaks a dialect of German that is only spoken, not written; and (2) I wasn’t actually immersed into the culture. We chose to have children right away, so I never even looked for a job. I was a stay-at-home wife and mom whose only contact with German was the grocery store, church, and my in-laws. My half-hearted attempts to use programs like Langenscheidt and Duolingo never seemed to help me in daily life, and I gave up quickly. So after two and a half years of living here, I can understand a lot of Swiss German and a lot of German, but I am nowhere near where I should be.
Since my last German class was five and a half years ago, I am due for a refresher course. My goal for 2018 is to take (and finish) at least one German course. For me, this course will have to be online so I can work on it during naptime J. I found a reputable language school that offers online courses within our budget and tested into a B2 level class. I started the first segment this week! I hope to take the B2 language test in 2019. This is the level most employers require foreigners to achieve before hiring them. I technically have no need of a language test since I plan to stay at home with my kids, but in two and a half years I have the opportunity to apply for Swiss citizenship, and this test would help show that I am integrated into the culture.
Everyone has a different language learning experience, but for most people, it is often extremely discouraging. If you have friends or family trying to conquer a new language, the most loving thing you can do is pray for them. Pray that they will be bold enough to practice the language with native speakers. Pray that they will be able to make the mental switch when they need to. Ask them how it’s going and encourage them not to give up. For those who have already conquered a mountain or two, remember how painful the climb is. Offering some correction-limited conversation time could give the encouragement they need to take the next step.
*Pictured: view from the top of the Säntis, the highest mountain near us