We are at Language Acquisition School focusing on the tools to learn the Xhosa language once we arrive in South Africa in January. We are not learning the language itself but how language is formed and what techniques we can use with a native Xhosa speaker to acquire the language and build relationships at the same time.
The overall concept of the initial training is to 1.) improve our ability to hear other sounds and tones and 2.) gain control of our speech mechanism.
We have listened to all kinds of sounds, many of which are not used at all in English. Listened and repeated, listen and repeated, listen and repeated.
We have learned about the physiology of speech. Much of this is news to us! From the throat to the nasal passages, we are studying what parts are involved in producing the various consonant and vowels sounds using English and its 44 sounds as an example. Supposedly, we all have the physical ability to make any of the sounds in any of the languages in the world. I wonder, is there a sermon in that?
In order to make this real to us we were issued a mirror. OK, what for? You guessed it, we have spent the day making all possible sounds and examining in the mirror how we are doing it – lips, teeth, tongue, etc. It certainly felt a bit strange if not awkward!
I am learning that the key is humility and sense of humor. I just have to remind myself – my new friends in South Africa will be laughing with me as long as I am willing to laugh too!
Tell everyone on staff at PILAT that I said, "hi!" It's a great program!
ReplyDeletedont worry daddy, i will laugh with you, not at you. people laugh a lot with me too... its fun :)
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