I received a very pleasant note from a student in my on-line Spanish class who is enjoying doing each and every available grammar exercise in En Linea, the Quia textbook published by Vista that we are using in class. I'm delighted to see a student taking advantage of the opportunity to learn another language, and I said so to the student and the group:
I appreciate your good attitude. Yes, learning another language is a lot of work. I have been surprised when hired for individual Spanish tutorials to find adults who actually believe that after one 60-minute lesson they ought to be able to understand the Spanish spoken on TV. The work of learning another language is a time-consuming venture, and one that will reap many rewards throughout life. The investment of time you put in now will yield over years, but building a good foundation requires spending the hours studying, practicing, reviewing, and honing your skills. I commend you for taking advantage of all that En Linea offers you. You're getting your money's worth out of this course.
The same student had noticed the use of the article in sentences that in English might not require the use of the word "the" and I was pleased by the careful observation that comes from spending time immersed in a new language. I responded thus to the wonderful question:
Spanish uses the article to generalize, whereas English does not, so that the book entitled _War and Peace_ by Tolstoy is called _La guerra y la paz_ in Spanish. Note also that while we capitalize nearly all words in a title, in Spanish, only the first letter of the title, along with proper nouns, are capitalized. Thus, we see that one language does not fit conveniently or exactly over another language, with perfect equivalents, and you will be learning a new series of cultural practices, norms, and rules along with the vocabulary lists you've been memorizing.
The student went on to make some very careful questions relating to observations on the difference between use of the definite and indefinite articles--grammatical questions on usage that arise after spending time immersed in practice expressing himself in the target language.
If you have the time to learn a language, take advantage of the opportunity. You'll never miss the soap operas or sit-coms that you didn't watch while you were puzzling over a new grammar concept. Your brain's neurons will thank you for the workout. If you have the motivation, make the time by finding small windows. Five minutes a day is worth more than three hours of cramming before an exam. I suggested to a busy working mother of three who is in my intermediate Spanish class that she keep her textbook in her car, so that before she enters work where the demands of being a manager overwhelm her, she can spend just 5 minutes reviewing the week's lesson so that her brain can digest the new information a bit at a time.
Making room for the cultural norms that go hand-in-hand with linguistic acquisition also requires time. The idea of savoring conversation along with a meal that is shared with family and friends, rather than devouring fast food while driving and listening to the radio, is an example of a cultural custom that may seem valuable but unattainable, until we open our lives to another way of seeing "the right way to do things."
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Comienzos
Esta semana comienza el nuevo semestre y, para muchas universidades incluso las mías, ha habido cancelaciones de clases debido al frío y a la nieve. Cuando el lunes pasé el día en la cama, sufriendo de una gripe terrible, se me ocurrió la posibilidad de que iba a tener que cancelar el primer día de mi clase. El martes, de todos modos, me desperté mejor...me di cuenta de que quizás el cuerpo no iba a funcionar al cien por cien, pero por lo menos pude conocer al nuevo grupo de estudiantes por la tarde.
La clase de español 200 comienza en el capítulo 10 del libro _Arriba_ y la gran ironía es que el capítulo se trata de la salud, el bienestar, las enfermedades, y los médicos. En la clase, dos estudiantes han estado enfermos durante la última semana, así que tenemos amplios ejemplos para los ejercicios en clase. Esta semana nos hace risa pensar que el acto de estornudar o toser forma parte de la "realia" de nuestro aprendizaje.
Me acuerdo de una clase que di hace varios años en que se usó la primera edición de un libro de texto recién publicado. El primer capítulo de aquel libro tocaba los temas de la superstición, las brujas, y los fantasmas. El texto nos causó problemas a los profesores, si digo la verdad. Fue muy difícil conocernos entre toda la clase con preguntas así como: "¿qué piensas de la brujería?" y "crees en la astrología?" Preguntarle en español a un desconocido, "¿has visto un fantasma alguna vez?" realmente no hizo que los estudiantes se sintieran muy cómodos en la primera semana de clase. Lo peor fue que durante esa misma semana, una estudiante de la clase perdió a su hermana en circunstancias no muy claras, y no se encontró el cuerpo de su hermana por varios días. Ella tuvo que viajar a otro estado para limpiar el apartamento de su hermana y luego regresar a recuperar las tareas de la primera semana de clases. En una situación tan trágica, la última complicación que esta chica esperaba fue enfrentarse con un libro de texto que hablaba de situaciones paranormales y del más allá como algo temeroso. Por razones obvias, la casa editorial sacó una nueva edición muy pronto, y habían cambiado el tema del primer capítulo. Pero no llegó a tiempo de evitar la situación difícil para aquella estudiante.
A veces nos enfrentamos con dificultades inesperadas. Ese año, me vi obligada a usar la fotocopiadora durante las primeras semanas para buscar otras lecturas que no serían tan extrañas y ofensivas para mi clase, ni para mis propias sensibilidades. La verdad es que, aunque sea a veces un atributo que se atribuye a la cultura hispana como algo normal y corriente, la superstición no es algo que veo como un aspecto positivo del pensamiento.
Los creyentes tenemos una relación con el Creador del universo, y no hay por qué temer las extrañezas que ocurren al azar porque sabemos que todo lo que ocurre forma parte del gran plan que tiene Dios. No tenemos todas las respuestas, pero nuestro Padre tiene la perspectiva eterna que realmente importa, y es El que nos guía en todo momento. El más allá no es algo miedoso, sino que lo que nos espera a los hijos de Dios es una vida eterna con nuestra familia en Cristo--una vida tan hermosa que las descripciones en nuestras expresiones humanas no sirven para entenderla.
Espero que los primeros días de clase no traigan muchas sorpresas. Desde el primer momento de este semestre hasta que se entregue la última página del examen final, que confiémos en El en cada momento para que nuestros estudios sean para Su gloria y nuestro bien.
La clase de español 200 comienza en el capítulo 10 del libro _Arriba_ y la gran ironía es que el capítulo se trata de la salud, el bienestar, las enfermedades, y los médicos. En la clase, dos estudiantes han estado enfermos durante la última semana, así que tenemos amplios ejemplos para los ejercicios en clase. Esta semana nos hace risa pensar que el acto de estornudar o toser forma parte de la "realia" de nuestro aprendizaje.
Me acuerdo de una clase que di hace varios años en que se usó la primera edición de un libro de texto recién publicado. El primer capítulo de aquel libro tocaba los temas de la superstición, las brujas, y los fantasmas. El texto nos causó problemas a los profesores, si digo la verdad. Fue muy difícil conocernos entre toda la clase con preguntas así como: "¿qué piensas de la brujería?" y "crees en la astrología?" Preguntarle en español a un desconocido, "¿has visto un fantasma alguna vez?" realmente no hizo que los estudiantes se sintieran muy cómodos en la primera semana de clase. Lo peor fue que durante esa misma semana, una estudiante de la clase perdió a su hermana en circunstancias no muy claras, y no se encontró el cuerpo de su hermana por varios días. Ella tuvo que viajar a otro estado para limpiar el apartamento de su hermana y luego regresar a recuperar las tareas de la primera semana de clases. En una situación tan trágica, la última complicación que esta chica esperaba fue enfrentarse con un libro de texto que hablaba de situaciones paranormales y del más allá como algo temeroso. Por razones obvias, la casa editorial sacó una nueva edición muy pronto, y habían cambiado el tema del primer capítulo. Pero no llegó a tiempo de evitar la situación difícil para aquella estudiante.
A veces nos enfrentamos con dificultades inesperadas. Ese año, me vi obligada a usar la fotocopiadora durante las primeras semanas para buscar otras lecturas que no serían tan extrañas y ofensivas para mi clase, ni para mis propias sensibilidades. La verdad es que, aunque sea a veces un atributo que se atribuye a la cultura hispana como algo normal y corriente, la superstición no es algo que veo como un aspecto positivo del pensamiento.
Los creyentes tenemos una relación con el Creador del universo, y no hay por qué temer las extrañezas que ocurren al azar porque sabemos que todo lo que ocurre forma parte del gran plan que tiene Dios. No tenemos todas las respuestas, pero nuestro Padre tiene la perspectiva eterna que realmente importa, y es El que nos guía en todo momento. El más allá no es algo miedoso, sino que lo que nos espera a los hijos de Dios es una vida eterna con nuestra familia en Cristo--una vida tan hermosa que las descripciones en nuestras expresiones humanas no sirven para entenderla.
Espero que los primeros días de clase no traigan muchas sorpresas. Desde el primer momento de este semestre hasta que se entregue la última página del examen final, que confiémos en El en cada momento para que nuestros estudios sean para Su gloria y nuestro bien.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Reyes
Happy Epiphany!
In Hispanic cultures around the world, children leave their shoes out with some hay, and receive their gifts from the Reyes Magos on this twelfth night, which reflects back upon the wise and wealthy visitors who brought rich gifts to baby Jesus and recognized His royalty. So put your shoes by the door, and see what surprises await you!
May the light of this night, and the special baby born to be the King of Kings, rule in your heart and bring you peace. I pray that 2009 will be a year of growing faith, and may all our individual and collective endeavors, be they linguistic, nutritional, spiritual, familial, literary, financial, musical, or otherwise, bring each of us closer to God.
En la paz de Cristo,
Sarah
In Hispanic cultures around the world, children leave their shoes out with some hay, and receive their gifts from the Reyes Magos on this twelfth night, which reflects back upon the wise and wealthy visitors who brought rich gifts to baby Jesus and recognized His royalty. So put your shoes by the door, and see what surprises await you!
May the light of this night, and the special baby born to be the King of Kings, rule in your heart and bring you peace. I pray that 2009 will be a year of growing faith, and may all our individual and collective endeavors, be they linguistic, nutritional, spiritual, familial, literary, financial, musical, or otherwise, bring each of us closer to God.
En la paz de Cristo,
Sarah
Reyes :)
Happy Epiphany!
This twelfth day of Christmas is a special multicultural encounter, in which we reflect on the arrival of wise easterners journeying westward in pursuit of a newly-appeared star that marked the birthplace of a tiny but important world figure. In Hispanic countries, children wait until this day, Reyes, to receive their gifts. Put your shoes out--see what happens!
As the world spins seemingly out of control, retirement accounts shrivel, numbers of crimes committed in the passed year skyrocket, and wars of words and weapons rage, let us stop to reflect on the cultural clash that little King Jesus brought to the world beyond the Judean countryside. Why is Jesus' presence as a baby born in a stable something that would attract the attention of the world's leading scientists, as those star-gazers of old must have been?
A Messiah had been promised. God's Word of promise through the prophets of old gave hope to the nation of Israel. So King Herod ordered the death of all boys of the region who were around Jesus' age, trying to prevent the threatening little royal's survival. Jesus' parents became aliens, fleeing for his life into Egypt. Theirs was no caravan--they crossed the desert much like those who cross borders in embattled frontier towns of our modern age, with the clothes on their back, the water in their canteen, and not much else. Because they believed, and because they loved, they left home and family to protect their son.
Sometimes picking up and going is what God demands. In 2009, many of us will be called to pack, to move, to leave home, to move on. We probably won't be following a star, or fleeing for the safety of our eldest sons. What is significant to me this year is to recognized that in following the star, the wise men believed. They followed that strange star into the small and insignificant town of Bethlehem, to find a child born to humble but pious parents, and they trusted that He mattered.
Maybe you left your shoes out last night. Maybe you put some hay in them, or left the light on for the Reyes Magos to find your resting place. Maybe your gifts are already two weeks old, and fitting a bit snugly after two weeks of holiday munching. Whatever the case at your house, whenever and however you celebrate, may the light of Christ's presence illumine your living and learning in the coming year. May 2009 be a year of strengthened faith in God, and in all your language and literature-learning adventures, cross-country or international moves, and pursuits of stability and peace, may the Lord lead and guide.
En la paz de Cristo,
Sarah
This twelfth day of Christmas is a special multicultural encounter, in which we reflect on the arrival of wise easterners journeying westward in pursuit of a newly-appeared star that marked the birthplace of a tiny but important world figure. In Hispanic countries, children wait until this day, Reyes, to receive their gifts. Put your shoes out--see what happens!
As the world spins seemingly out of control, retirement accounts shrivel, numbers of crimes committed in the passed year skyrocket, and wars of words and weapons rage, let us stop to reflect on the cultural clash that little King Jesus brought to the world beyond the Judean countryside. Why is Jesus' presence as a baby born in a stable something that would attract the attention of the world's leading scientists, as those star-gazers of old must have been?
A Messiah had been promised. God's Word of promise through the prophets of old gave hope to the nation of Israel. So King Herod ordered the death of all boys of the region who were around Jesus' age, trying to prevent the threatening little royal's survival. Jesus' parents became aliens, fleeing for his life into Egypt. Theirs was no caravan--they crossed the desert much like those who cross borders in embattled frontier towns of our modern age, with the clothes on their back, the water in their canteen, and not much else. Because they believed, and because they loved, they left home and family to protect their son.
Sometimes picking up and going is what God demands. In 2009, many of us will be called to pack, to move, to leave home, to move on. We probably won't be following a star, or fleeing for the safety of our eldest sons. What is significant to me this year is to recognized that in following the star, the wise men believed. They followed that strange star into the small and insignificant town of Bethlehem, to find a child born to humble but pious parents, and they trusted that He mattered.
Maybe you left your shoes out last night. Maybe you put some hay in them, or left the light on for the Reyes Magos to find your resting place. Maybe your gifts are already two weeks old, and fitting a bit snugly after two weeks of holiday munching. Whatever the case at your house, whenever and however you celebrate, may the light of Christ's presence illumine your living and learning in the coming year. May 2009 be a year of strengthened faith in God, and in all your language and literature-learning adventures, cross-country or international moves, and pursuits of stability and peace, may the Lord lead and guide.
En la paz de Cristo,
Sarah
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