Language 101

Learning a new language is a rough thing (especially if you don't really understand the building blocks to your own language... just how to speak it- that's me, and almost everyone in the world). So, many mistakes happen- it is just a fact! I was told, during training, that learning a new language is almost like becoming a child again. I have found that to be so true. Many times I feel so trapped and frustrated because I can't communicate even the smallest of things. Also, you have to be ready to be laughed at anytime and anywhere. Your feelings just need to not be attached to how others are going to respond, or you will stop trying. I find it funny that the children I work with (who don't yet grasp the concept of different lanugages) often walk away from me muttering that I am really dumb. And while it is funny, it is often painful. Many people don't care to give the time of day to someone who doesn't speak their own language. I often feel very dumb, even though I know deep down that I am not. It just feels like that a lot of the time.

So, this post is dedicated to laughing your way through language learning. Of course, it will be at other people's expense (I have forgotten all my blunders or I would readily air then on here- trust me, there have been many). But here are a few things that I found funny recently. Oh, you must remember that my team consists of three cultures, only one of which has English as their language (and even then, that is just 2 people). So, many are learning Albanian and English at the same time.

* In Albanian there is no word for foot or for toes. The word for foot is the same as the word for leg, and if you want to say toes, you just attach the word for fingers onto the other word. Literally translated (as many of my students do): Toes = leg fingers. That cracks me up everytime.

* One of my team members had a sister-in-law in the hospital recently to deliver her neice. When she was telling me about it, she said something about going to the hospital to "make a baby". I was horrified and confused for a minute, but then I realized she was talking about "having a baby" or giving birth. I quickly corrected her from saying that anymore!

* During our team training this past week, it began to snow. Once, on one of our breaks, a few of us went to the girl's quarters. Some of the girls were speaking in another language so I wasn't paying attention. All the sudden it switched to English and I got brought into this: "Christina, can you believe that she isn't wearing her underwear today?" Again, horrified, but I slowly turned around to assess what was happening on the other side of the room. You guessed it, the meaning was LONG underwear, or long johns. I informed them that the first word was vitally important in this situation.

I could go on and on with these stories. They happen all day long (many times from my own mouth). But these are the ones that readily come to my mind from the past few days. Hope you guys get a kick out them!

For your further entertainment and better understanding:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IzqJtxoWzM