"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!"

Perseverance: Fighting Discouragement - On Paper

Having some paperwork in regards to progress can be a helpful tool for reflection and planning.

Here are screen shots of two accountability forms I have in my files.  I am not sure who formatted them, although I suspect they are from Greg Thomson or one of his colleagues.

Perseverance: Fighting Discouragement - Rebuilding Motivation

After taking a couple of weeks off, during the Christmas holiday, from intense language learning, my motivation significantly dropped.  And yet, I knew that I needed a motivation revamp.  For me, that meant coming up with some new language learning ideas and goals.

Like:
1. Talking exclusively in French, even to my husband, two days a week.
2. Recording my verbal retelling of stories several times a week, then listening to them and writing them out with the corrections I observe, and then having the writing checked by a French speaker.
3. Getting a membership to a workout club where I can attend exercise classes that are instructed in French.
4. Reading furiously at my reading level, not worrying too much about words I don't know but rather surmising their meaning from context.
5. Taking a few verbs per day which I use to build sentences in several different tenses and conjugations.

What are some of your ideas for building up motivation after a period of discouragement?

Perseverance: Fighting Discouragement - Identifying Gaps

In order to progress we need to be able to not only acknowledge our progress but also realistically identify where we are lacking confidence.

I keep a list in my language learning journal of specific aspects of the language that I notice I need work on.  Here are a few things that are currently on my list:

1. Geography - a couple days ago, my husband and I met a woman in the park.  When she told us where she was from, we didn't know the place, she seemed surprised that we didn't know it, so it reminded me that we should work on some french and world geography understanding with our language helpers
2. Calendar term use - describing when things take place on a calendar or on a time-line, I understand this easily but still don't feel confident saying many of the terms
3. Time and date production - when I come across times and dates written I still think them in English, I need to work on producing these more complex words confidently
4. The subjunctive verb form
5. The conditional verb form
6. Ear training - continuing to drill "u" vs. "ou" and "ai" vs. "é" in our language sessions
7. Use of "chez"
8. Talking about emotions and expressing feelings of delight, surprise, regret, etc.
9. Always continuing to work on masculine and feminine agreement and classification of nouns
10. Continuing to work on intonation and speech rhythm

What are some of the things on your list?

Perseverance: Fighting Discouragement - Combatting Impatience

One of my biggest issues right now is my impatience with the learning process.  I must be realistic.  If I really want to learn French well, it is going to take much longer than a few months.

Here are some of the strategies I have employed when I get impatient:

1. Take a moment to reflect on the complexity of your mother-tongue language abilities and on how long it took you to develop those skills to such a level.  (that length should equal your current age unless it has been several years since you have learned a new word or phrase:)
2. Then reflect on how long it might have taken you in your first language to get to the point you are at now in your second language.
3. Be encouraged that you are very likely progressing faster in your second language than you did in your first (see posts on Language Development).
4. Remind yourself that second language learning will require a great deal of time and effort.  There is no short-cut if real mastery is desired.
5. Remind yourself that life-long learning in all your languages is normal and healthy.

Do you have other suggestions for combatting impatience?

Perseverance: Fighting Discouragement - Encouraging Self-Evaluation

In "Am I Changing" by Greg Thomson, Greg suggestions two simple but encouraging questions by which to evaluate your own progress on a weekly basis.  They are:

1. Which topics am I better able to discuss this week than last week?
2. In which communication situations am I better able to function this week than last week?

These two simple questions can serve as some helpfully frequent encouragement in regards to your progress.

Perseverance: Fighting Discouragement - Looking Back

One encouraging practice is to look back by reflecting on language learning progress.

Here is an encouraging list of some things I couldn't manage in French 5-6 months ago which I feel fairly comfortable doing now:
1. Talking on the phone
2. Welcoming people into our home
3. Emailing
4. Shopping at the open-air market
5. Following recipes
6. Reading the Bible (version in current French)
7. Asking for help in public places like stores or businesses
8. Understanding most of our local church services

What are some of your encouraging signs of progress?

Perseverance: Fighting Discouragement - Any suggestions?

My husband and I are now almost six months into our French learning experience.  We have learned many things and while seeing how far we have come is quite encouraging, realizing how far we have yet to go can be, on the contrary, extremely discouraging.

I have recently noticed that I am personally fighting a good deal of discouragement in regards to my language learning process.  So, in hopes of strengthening my strategies for perseverance, I will dedicate a handful of posts to reflecting and sharing some of my thoughts on the matter.

Please feel more than welcome to share yours thoughts and/or suggestions as well!  I know I would be greatly encouraged by them.