Testing is a helpful way to discover what you really know – what you have assimilated. And, on a whole different level, testing helps us to uncover what we believe – really believe.
This past week, all the wonderful things I’ve written about resting in the process—about absorbing and just doing your best— were put under the microscope of unpredictable daily life.
Ricardo and I, along with a large number of other people, came down with a virus, which resulted in me missing two days of school.
That’s 12 hours of intensive teaching involving complicated grammar rules, lists of new vocabulary words, and all the conversation practice.
You can imagine what that might feel like?
It was like a pop quiz on resting through whatever life throws at you and, as such, uncovered some ways in which the language learning process keeps taking on a life of its own. One which is not congruent with the kind of life I’m pursuing.
Happily, some research appeared in my inbox, which reminded me that we really have to stay with our reasons for doing things – the enjoyment and purpose. And that pressure does not help at all.
Amen.
Then, a new friend who understands the challenge of learning, a new language, firsthand, sent me a TED talk about what polyglots have in common. The speaker doesn’t happen to be gifted with language learning, but currently learns a new language every two years.
May I hold you in suspense until next week when I will tell you more about that?
And now one more week until our final exam and the conclusion of our Arabic language intensive.
Prayers appreciated.
May you rest in spite of whatever life is throwing at you and me your rest be sweet.
Alicia
Enjoying your writings. My sister-in-law shared your blog with me last year.
Another possible help… I recently started reading “Fluent Forever” by Gabriel Wynar.
I do not know a second language but would love to.
Sending up a prayer for you.
Looking forward to next week’s post.