Learning the language

Ann shared with us her “String of Bad Luck”, “Change of Fortune”, “Holiday on Hold” and “Trials of Technology” article series over the last few weeks. Today she tells us about her experiences in learning languages.

I love the challenge of learning the language of a country you’re going to visit. They reckon as you age it is useful to exercise your brain and it helps prevent dementia, too!

I think it shows respect when you visit a different country to at least attempt to have a few words and phrases you can speak and understand. There is a practical aspect, too. I believe, and have found it to be true, that people are more likely to help you if you try to speak to them in their language.

My first attempt was trying to speak Spanish in a restaurant in Lima, Peru on an overnight stay on my way to meet my daughter in Cusco. The waiter was charming and I ate a meal I enjoyed. Being able to make myself understood was very helpful in the Czech Republic, where I boarded a tour bus as the only English-speaking passenger. The guide didn’t know and was giving her no-doubt interesting commentary in some other language. I was able to approach her at the first stop and explain – in Czech – my problem. The tour resumed and she gave her talk in two languages, including English for me.

I have used Pimsler audio courses. You’re meant to do 30 minutes a day. The Spanish wasn’t too hard, although once I met up with my daughter, Jess in Peru she did most of the talking for us. She’d been in South America for seven months, studying Spanish at the University of Ecuador, doing volunteer work at a local school and turtle rescue on the coast before holidaying in Peru.

Czech was much more challenging. The first lesson that I listened to I thought, “I’m never going to be able to understand, let alone speak this!” But I persevered. One bus driver in Prague was quite surprised and said I had a good accent, when I spoke. It fades fast, though. About all I can remember is “I’d like something to drink”. Does that say something about me?

I intended to get more seriously into French. I’d bought CDs of just ten lessons of Spanish and Czech but I purchased thirty French lessons and downloaded the MP3s onto my phone. I started listening while I walked each morning – two birds with one stone. I’m trying to get fit for all the walking I’ll do on my trip to Europe and I got up to 5ks in fifty minutes. I got some odd looks from other walkers as I stumbled through French phrases out loud – they probably couldn’t see my Bluetooth earpiece but it’s no different to people with their ipods and earbuds.

I also took an eight-week Alliance Francais course. I was learning slowly but continual practice is required otherwise everything falls out of my head. So, with only three weeks to go, I’d better get back into the daily habit fast.

I don’t know what to do about the Spanish. Start again with my CD and do it simultaneously? Download lessons to my phone and cram in the last few days before we cross into Spain? Forget it and hope for the best? If we were on an organised tour I wouldn’t be too worried but we haven’t even used a travel agent, we’re doing this on our own.

image: Let Ideas Compete