“I’m Happy, Very Happy!”
I loved our language lesson today, for the joy it brought our language helper. Now that we’re heading into intermediate level, we’re experimenting with some new types of language activities. Today we tried a “shared experience” for the first time. In this activity, we do some kind of experience with our language helper. Afterwards, we sit down and reminisce together about what we did, talking in as much detail as possible. Then we make a recording of our language helper retelling the story of our experience from start to finish. We end by listening to the recording together and noting down new vocabulary words, expressions, and structures for further practice.
This morning I needed a few groceries, so we decided to make a trip to the shop the subject of our language lesson. Together with Minou, our language helper, we walked the few blocks to the bazaar on the main street of our town. We talked about the weather (clear and sunny), the dog asleep in the middle of the road, and the woman hanging laundry on a wire fence. Two older men passed us, and we overheard one say to the other, “Where do those foreigners come from?” and we looked at each other and smiled. We arrived at the shop and bought yogurt, sugar, and eggs, and asked the shopkeeper about his family and his apple orchard. We walked back home and greeted neighbors on the road. A woman passed us on the way to the market with a tub of fish on her head.
As we reached home and took our shoes off at the door, Minou said, “I’m happy, very happy!” I looked at her and saw the brightest eyes and biggest smile I’ve ever seen on her face. She said, “You speak very well! I’m very happy!” She repeated this again as we sat down at our kitchen table to continue the lesson. I realized that, although she’s been giving us lessons for several months, she had never seen us out in the community actually interacting with people. She was surprised and pleased at how well we were doing. As I saw her face lit up with joy, I could sense that she was proud of us, and proud of herself, too. I’m a language teacher myself, so I understand that kind of joy. The success of the morning’s experience probably meant more to her than her week’s wages. She saw her efforts making a difference in our lives.
Posted in Uncategorized by Lisa