Language Learning

"How do you teach an English class, anyway, especially if you don't speak French?" That's a frequently asked question and one that is not that easy to answer. In my defense, I am taking the initiative to learn French while I'm here: 1) enlisting a private tutor for one hour a week; 2) coordinating a two hour semi-private lessons with another woman who's also trying to speak more fluently; and 3) watching the DVD that accompanies our textbook each week, and 4) wriiting out the exercises that accompany the DVD. With that educational focus combined with the daily practice of speaking, my level of understanding is definitely improving, as is my ability to speak Congolese French and actually communicate. It is still challenging and frustrating, however, when I know I'm saying the right word, but my listener doesn't get it.

Which makes me identify with my students when they are trying their best to make sense, but just aren't being understood. So to teach them, what I usually do is start right out with 100 % English in all my classes. It takes a few minutes for everybody to relax and realize that I'm not going to embarrass them if they make a mistake. On the contrarary, I encourage them to test out their speaking skills, to use their voices as much as possible in a class period, which is usually two hours long. Most students are well acquainted with grammar and know how conjugate verbs, both regular, irregular, probably better than most native English speakers can. I mean if you were asked, what is the past tense form of the verb "to lay" for third person singular, would you be able to tell me? Well, a lot of my students can. But they have a hard time speaking English. So that's where I come it. It's really rewarding to see what a few short weeks of building confidence can do. It isn't difficult to teach, but it takes a lot of patience and energy. I don't always display of either as much as I should, but overall, God has provided the necessary qualities to get the job done. Not perfect, but well enough.

On another topic, I'm co-chair of the American Community Celebration coming up on July 5. It will be an old-fashioned afternoon picnic, for all the expatriots here in Kinshasa, most of whom have already left for the summer, but there are probably 250 of us left who will be there. If any of you are visiting at the time, be sure to bring photo id and you'll be let in the gate and the residence of the Ambassador and his wife. The evening of the 4th is being reserved for certain Congolese (about 1000) who are invited to celebrate with the Ambassador and his wife.

And more good news. I got a call from the mechanic this morning just before church started that the car was on it's way to us. Oscar dropped it off at church. I took it to Al-Dar for some Lebanese falafel, shwarma, hummus and then drove it home. Simple pleasures.

Sorry--the internet won't let me load photos on today. Maybe tomorrow?