On language learning - Part 1

I've never been much of a language learner; it's just not my strength. Unlike most other people in this world Americans are at a striking disadvantage when it comes to learning a second language. It is something not required of us. Not expected of us. But it should be. Of all the things I'm angry about not being taught in my youth, this is the big one. We spent so much time on such pointless subjects, but language learning was not seen as important enough.

When I was a junior and senior in high school (16 to 18 years old), I participated in a Washington State program called Running Start. This meant that I went to the community college instead of attending classes at my high school. I wanted more of a challenge and going to college also offered me greater flexibility to work alongside my studies.. not to mention this meant I would get my first two years of my bachelor degree paid for since I was still dually enrolled at my high school. Having any college paid for in the USA is a wonderful help.

Anyhow, it wasn't until this time in my life that I was first exposed to language learning. I decided to enroll in French classes. In fact, I took a whole year of them. The sad is is that I never actually learned French. I should have. I wished I remembered it. I did well in the classes and on the exams, but the bar was set so low. I know that if I had gone to a French speaking community even while I was taking that class that I would not have understood most things being said around me. I also would have struggled a lot with communicating with others. There were no oral exams or presentations, so I really never spent much time with trying to speak it... this is still a problem.

My next language learning experience was in Oslo, Norway. When I first arrived in Oslo for my Erasmus Mundus program, I enrolled in level one Norwegian, but I quickly dropped it. I decided that traveling and hanging out with friends was the experience I wanted to have than spending so much time trying to learn the language. This attitude persisted while I was living in Finland and Portugal too. And you know what? I don't regret it at all. I had A LOT of fun and additional homework and classes would have put a damper on my traveling flexibility for sure.

So when I returned to Oslo for my thesis semester, I decided it was time to try Norwegian again. I enrolled in level one again. Never have I struggled so much with a language. I had NO IDEA how to study a different language. I had NO IDEA how to prepare for such rigorous language exams. It was a massive struggle for me. I hate to admit it, but there were many tears and tantrums because I hated studying the language so much. When the exams rolled around, I did terrible.. but somehow I barely squeeked by with a passing score. 

In the summer, I continued my study of the Norwegian language. My BF and I really hoped to stay in Norway, so this is why I still continued to learn the language. I attended the Oslo International Summer School, which offers intensive courses at the University of Oslo Blindern campus. I actually learned a lot in this course. I had class for three hours each day for five days a week. After class, I studied for five to six hours every single day. Yes, it got old. Fast. But it kept me focused and the painfulness of the class passed much more quickly that the semester long class. By the end this course, I was beginning to understand dinner table conversations and podcasts and simple newspaper articles. When it was exam time for this class, I was quite pleased with my grade! It was nothing stellar let me tell you. It was average, but I knew that was the absolute best I could do. I even met with a tutor twice a week during this summer course and practiced speaking Norwegian with my BF's parents.

In the fall semester, I enrolled in the level three Norwegian course; however, I unfortunately had to drop it soon after I enrolled. This course was simply too intense and I had to finish my master thesis. I really wanted to take this course because it meant I could take it for free while I was still a student, but it was just more important for me to finish my master thesis. I really didn't think it would be too hard to do both, but drew the short end of the stick (so to speak) when I selected my teacher. My teacher was a good teacher, but I guess he thought we had nothing else to do outside of the class? The course already required ten hours of class time each week, but the thing that I was unable to manage was reading this novel that he assigned. While all the other level three classes read this more simplified 70 page compendium, my class was required to read this 220 page (seriously boring) adult novel. The teacher gave us an option of an easier novel or this really intense one and for some reason the majority of the class chose this ridiculously hard one. 

Even with my BF's help with reading this book, it still took me half an hour to read one page. I just didn't have that kind of time to commit on top of all the other usual homework for the class in addition to my thesis work. This course also required weekly newspaper article presentations (those weren't so bad) and a ten page academic paper, which would have needed to be submitted about the time my thesis was due - not going to happen. So, ultimately I dropped the course. Whew! Boy did I feel relieved!

In the following spring semester, I enrolled in the level three course again. This time I was paying big bucks for the course (circa 2,000 euros), so I was absolutely going to make it through. My teacher assigned us the normal 70 page compendium (yes!) and wasn't as strict with the presentations.

I still struggled with speaking. I'm generally a quiet person as it is, so trying to speak Norwegian was painful.. and embarrassing. I'm sure this is no different from any other person who has had to learn English or some other language, but this was the first time I was experiencing this embarrassment.. at age 26. It seemed like nearly everyone else in my class (and other classes) were better than me. I really worried about my exam and how I had progressed. I personally was pleased with myself - by the end of level three, I could understand 90 percent of dinner conversations. I could eavesdrop on conversations without a problem, work supervisors could give me instructions in oral and written Norwegian, I could send emails in Norwegian and be understood. This was the most important thing for me - I could be understood - and by strangers. So, I was quite happy with my abilities. But when I went to class, I got the feeling from the other students and my teacher that I had not progressed fast enough. I should have known more by that time. When I received my grade, I was quite happy! Again it was nothing stellar, but I still managed to pass. 

Just before I left Oslo, I finally was starting to break out of my shell. Out of my fear of speaking Norwegian to strangers and even to people who knew me well before I started studying the language. And now I find myself in Iceland.. starting at square one again.. almost.