"Humility will serve me longer than Dutch" Guest Post by Ibukun Olowu

My good friend Ibukun wrote the following as a comment on one of my perseverance posts.  I thought it might be as encouraging to you as it was to me so I asked her permission to post it a bit more prominently.  


"I think it's always good to realize that language learning is a life-long process--there's always going to be a new level of proficiency to aspire to, so in a sense you shouldn't feel discouraged if you're not at some genius level just because you've been at it for six months. I've been studying Dutch for much, much longer than that and there are still days when I sound like a complete idiot in my own ears. But usually the people around me understand me better than I think they do, so that also encourages me at such times.

But the most important thing, I think is realizing that the Lord who's given you this opportunity and brought you this far will certainly take you the rest of the way. Plus, He has plans and purposes for your weakness in French. For me, having to use simpler language in Dutch than I'm actually capable of has been a humbling process, which is far more valuable an experience than simply mastering a new language. Humility will serve me much longer than Dutch will. And, I'm always amazed when God uses me, with my less than 100% Dutch, and God gets more glory 'cause I know for sure it wasn't my own strength! So, think of learning French as part of the sanctification process!"

How to Organize Recordings: Guest Post by Chris Tachick

Here's how I process our recordings in our listening library. Modify to your situation.

• Upload recordings to computer and itunes
• Delete junk recordings, and edit out dead time in recordings (editing can be a real time waster, so I try to make clean recordings in the first place and avoid as much editing as possible. There are several good editing programs available - for a free, simple, basic one, check out audacity.)
• Label each recording (Date, Speaker, Content, and Type of Recording - more info below)
• Convert each recording to mp3 (so they interface with all of our listening devices)
• Make listening folders for each recording type (story, vocabulary, activity, sound sort) and move each file into their appropriate folder
• Load recordings to listening devices

Labeling: Types of Recordings
Greg Thompson recommends that the language learner, upon completing the Here and Now Phase, should have a streamlined listening library for future reference.  Categorizing and labeling your recordings according type - as story, vocabulary, activity, or sound sort - ensure that you will rapidly and easily retrieve the recording you want to review.

How To Record: Guest Post by Chris Tachick

What to Record:

• Record Native Speech
• Record for Review: Vocabulary, Stories, Repeatable activities - TPR activities can be repeated easily through recordings
• Record Yourself, Occasionally: Recording yourself talking about topics which you have heard talked about several times is a great way to welcome correction.  Have a Language Nurturer (LN) analyze and correct the recording with you.  We have found that LNs more readily correct a recording (since it is more impersonal), than real time speech. Hearing yourself also helps you to more objectively recognize your mistakes. 

What Not to Record:

• The Entire Session: A good, 2 hour-long language session with an LN will yield between 5-10 minutes of good recordings: stories, vocabulary, and repeatable activities. 
• Other language learners
• Detailed grammatical explanation
• Student and teacher interaction: A lot of background noise happens and you are not getting 100% native speech.

Other Tips:

• Location: Both you and the recording device must be positioned properly.  Sit close to the teacher/LN to get the best sound production with minimal sound interference.  Have the recording device easily accessible so you can operate it without distraction.   Some locations will not yield helpful recordings such as those with lots of background noise, or large rooms.
• Secure Permission for Recording from your LN/Professor
  Basic, yes, but fundamental.  Ask if your LN/Prof is willing to let you record, and find out if they have preferences/restrictions on what can be recorded.  Ask and don't assume.