Learning the rules of a language and learning the language are not the same. The rules are important, but learning to communicate is far more important. This series on language learning is not just something I think might work, it is what I am doing right now. I am in the midst of learning Spanish. This involves language school, but it continues far beyond our short time we have with our language school teacher.

On Monday and Tuesday nights, I have the unique opportunity to attend the seminary that is a ministry of the church we attend here. Classes are from 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM. The leaders of the seminary are very kind to let me attend classes there. These classes are more opportunities to learn and practice Spanish. I don’t say very much, most of my learning is by way of listening and watching the interaction between teacher and students. I can see the progression. When I first started going I was more engaged at specific words that were being said. At some point there has been a dramatic shift. Now I have arrived at the place of paying attention to the topic and what is being communicated (which is far better). I find myself wanting to interject some thought here and there (although I am not quite sure my mouth can say what my mind wants to say). I sit there on those nights learning what is being said! I probably understand 80-85% of what is being communicated in class. It helps that the subject matter is something I am familiar with, but I am learning. I still write down the words that I hear but don’t know the meaning. I look those words up in a dictionary afterwards. We have a break about halfway through the night. This is an opportunity to converse for me. I try to stand outside in the cold night (it is winter at this time) and talk to someone about whatever I can. We almost always talk about how cold it is. We have talked about class and what we were just discussing in class. We talk about upcoming days. Anything I can find to talk about I try to do so. We resume class after the break and I finish listening to the last portion of class. At 10:00 PM, we dismiss and I start for home (about a 15 minute drive). I arrive home to a dark house. Leslie and the kids have already eaten and are now in bed. There is a plate of food left out for me to eat. Leslie will usually get out of bed to greet me and tell me about dinner. I will eat at the table and think about how incredible my life is! We get to learn a language and get to do so in some amazing ways!

At the time of this blog, it is winter break. Right now is is a very nasty, rainy day. Winter break lasts 2 weeks. We resume classes next week. I am looking forward to it. The leaders of the seminary have asked me to teach a short class in November/December in the seminary! I should be fluent by then, at least fluent enough to teach a class! This is just another way I am learning the language!

I am in Buenos Aires province, in the city of La Plata, and my family and I have lived here now for almost four months. I am a missionary in the midst of learning the language in one of the most amazing places on Earth (although I am admittedly biased). I am learning culture and customs while learning the language. This is the fourth post of this series. Language learning must go far beyond language school. So what else can be done to learn the language? Rules are important but practice is just as important if not more important. When our daughters each learned to talk, we never sat them down and explained them what nouns were and when to use them. They heard us speak and slowly started mimicking what we were saying. They could never have explained what prepositions are and when to use them, but they used them frequently. Before long they were talking… A LOT!

We are learning the rules of the language, but we are also practicing. The good news is we are in a country full of people who speak the language. We practice Castellano (Spanish) whenever we interact with anyone, but I believe we have to be more purposed. Therefore I have set up a small “schedule” to practice the language. In the mornings during the week, I go to the Carnicero (a carnicero is a butcher shop). This is from about 9:30 AM to 1 PM. 1pm is when they close for siesta (click the link to read about the siesta from our May 2016 missions letter). Tony and Lily are the proprioters of the carniceria (butchers are called “carniceros”). They have been married for over 30 years. They are an Argentine couple with deep roots in La Plata. They have travelled to many places in Argentina through the years. From 9:30 AM to 1 PM we talk. We talk about places in Argentina, food, customs, sports, the events that transpired the day prior, and of course beef. We talk about anything we can. They are very kind to me. Lily consistently corrects my Spanish and tells me how to say things in a better way (I need it, it is very helpful). In this time, I am learning more than just about how to say the right words, I am learning how to think like an Argentine, I am learning what to do and not to do beyond just words, I am learning how to communicate! I asked God to give me someone who I can spend hours with per day, who will correct me as I speak, who will teach me. God answered my prayers in Tony and Lily. These hours I share with them are progressing my language ability more than I can explain! This is just another way, a huge way, we are learning the language.

There are other ways we are learning the language. More posts are coming. Check back soon.

Learning the language is of great importance. In our last post, I overviewed language school. Language school is just one part of learning the language. My days are filled with Spanish. I am listening to, talking, or interacting in Spanish before, during, and after language school. My day starts by reading the Bible in Spanish. I don’t read the Bible in English, I read in Spanish. This is difficult because in the time it takes me to read a few chapters in English, it takes me as long or longer to read a few paragraphs in Spanish! I am growing in my understanding and able to read somewhat faster, but I am still far from how I was able to read in English. It will come in time with practice. It is part of learning the language. This is part of my mornings, but there is something else I do in the mornings to learn Spanish…

I watch Disney Junior in Spanish. This IS NOT for enjoyment. By watching shows like “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse” in Spanish I am learning the language. My theory is that shows for little children will use a limited vocabulary so that they can understand. I am building my understanding by watching these shows. As I type out this blog, I am watching a show about a cat wearing a red sweater and sneakers and teaching his little sister about stickers in a book. I am sure I am the oldest person in Argentina watching this, but I am understanding 80-90% of what is being said! It is not entertaining at all but I am learning the language. I spend about 1 hour doing this each morning. From this I will go out and continue to practice Spanish.

I saw a chart that explained that Spanish was one of the easier languages to learn for a native English speaker. While I am sure that this is true, that does not mean that learning Spanish is easy! It still takes hours and hours of study and practice. My mornings start out with reading the Bible in Spanish and Disney Junior in Spanish. There is more that we do each day to learn the language and some of those things will be covered in our next blog post. Until then make much of Jesus in English, Spanish, or whatever other language you may speak!

Learning a language is not done without hours of learning and practice. The ability to communicate fluidly to the people around you is essential in reaching people with the Gospel. How can I explain the truths of the Bible if I cannot speak the language? Communicating is essential in life. To communicate in Argentina, you must know and understand Spanish. This is my life these days. I spend my days learning Castellano (Spanish). I attempt to say things (inevitably I say it wrong) and attempt to understand what others are saying as they correct me. I am growing in the language, but have very far to go! I pray in Spanish, read my Bible in Spanish, and talk in Spanish. Today’s post is more about language learning. For this post we will look at language school.

Language school is a formal setting. I firmly believe you cannot learn a language by language school alone. But that is not to say that language school is not important. Language school is very important. Our language school teacher’s name is Alfredo. Alfredo was born and raised in Argentina. He was saved in his 60’s. He loves Jesus and works to make Leslie and I fluent in the language. He heard the Gospel at Iglesia Bautista El Faro (the same church we attend now). Shortly after he believed on Jesus. He loves Argentina very much and loves talking about the culture and different cities. He corrects me constantly and I love it. I am learning so much from him. Our language school is 3 hours per day. In those 3 hours we work through a curriculum, talk about what we did last night, what we are going to do tomorrow, or what we read or saw. We sip on Mate (an herbal tea here that is delicious) and everything done is done in Spanish. Alfredo knows the vast majority of the people in this country are lost and have never heard the Gospel before. Today he was urging me to stay in La Plata because there are so many parts of this city that have never been touched with the Gospel (we are praying about where to go, but this is a subject for another post). We learn the rules of the language during this time.

Language school is a portion of language learning, but there are other things I do daily as I am learning this language. There will be more to follow on language learning.