Once again, it's time for my monthly IWSG post. I swear each month goes by faster and faster as I get older. Wonder why that is?The theme for this month's Insecure Writer's Support Group is LANGUAGE. Not the English language, but Spanish. My life is currently consumed!
We moved to Ecuador in December 2013. Our initial months were taken over by getting our visas registered, obtaining our national ID card (cedula), finding our way around town and furnishing our apartment. We planned to visit the states in Sept-Oct 2014 so we put off taking any Spanish classes until our return.
We signed up for Spanish classes in November 2014. They were five days a week and over two hours a day. We did learn some things but we were also exhausted. We took two weeks and decided to hold off on more till after the holiday season.
2015 arrived and we had so many new friends to meet and so many new places to explore, so classes were delayed again. Our friends had talked about Coffee Club Spanish classes and they all liked it. So when we finally saw a notice about a new session starting, we joined.
We now go twice a week for 1.5 hours, a much better schedule for us, especially with homework! We just finished the first two classes and are looking forward to them this week. There are six weeks in all, then we can move up to Beginner II.
Yes, we are starting at the base level, rock bottom, pre-kindergarten group. Our old brains take longer to learn something new and a new language at least quadruples that learning curve. Keep your fingers crossed for us!
Wow! What a venture that is. I took Spanish classes. I can understand it but not speak it very well.
ReplyDeleteStephen Tremp
www.stephentremp.com
I think you'll do fine, Donna. At lease you are living where you can be immersed in Spanish. And so what if you're at base level, rock bottom, pre-kindergarten? You are doing it! Maybe you can write some stories in Spanish as you get better!
ReplyDeleteGotta start somewhere. Good luck.
ReplyDeleteThank you everyone for your comments. It has been an interesting adjustment for sure.
ReplyDeleteAt least you're in a culture where you can use the language, and you're taking effort to adapt. That is commendable. Best of luck with your classes!
ReplyDeleteQué bueno, Donna! And that's about the extent of the Spanish I can write articulately right now. I can still spout out a few lines of high school Spanish textbook. My favorite line is Ojala que se mejore pronto. I hope you get well soon. Before you know it, you'll be thinking Spanish. :-)
ReplyDeleteThe View from the Top of the Ladder
Take 25 to Hollister