It seems like we have been here much longer than that. I think one reason for that feeling is the intensity of language school. Some days we may be introduced to upwards of several dozen new words. And the grammar can be a bit challenging, as well. The subject+verb+object placement is similar to English—which helps—but the similarity ends there.
Yesterday we had our first quiz—we’re about half-way through the first module.
 |
| Practicing Restaurant Lingo |
But the good thing about it is that we are recognizing more words that we hear and are able to use what we’re learning in our day to day interactions.
There are frustrating moments when you are not understood because you don’t get the tone just right. Some people are able to understand us better than others when this happens. But then there are the exciting moments when we are communicating something that we didn’t learn in class and are understood—like when Ingrid went to ask for kaffir lime leaves from a produce vendor.
Some words can be especially challenging. The name of the sky train stop that we use in our commute is “Victory Monument”. The announcer (recorded) says it fairly quickly so I could never quite figure out what she is saying. Victory Monument is an important landmark so it is useful to be able to say its name. So I asked our instructor for help and now I can finally say it—though I cannot say I have mastered it. Now I just need opportunities to practice using it. And maybe one day I’ll evn be able to write it in Thai
No comments:
Post a Comment