Confident Swimmer in a Kiddie Pool of Spanish

While conversing with a Costa Rican friend, I attempted to describe what happened last weekend. I halted before every verb - perfect or imperfect? Regular or irregular? Ser or Estar? Reflexive or not? Pronoun first or not?

A minute of silence in mid sentence is what you call a VERY awkward moment. And when it happens in every sentence, you can just imagine the patience my listener needs to have.

My yellow Spanish grammar book is dog eared and coffee stained, and my verb book and pocket dictionary are grungy from daily use. And thanks to some amazing teachers at The Spanish Language Institute, I've covered 2/3 of the Spanish grammar book.

So what have I learned after 6 months of classes and immersion in Costa Rican culture?

I can read a Spanish Sunday School Lesson like a primary school student.  And because I can order confidently in a restaurant, give directions to a taxi driver (no addresses here!), exchange simple greetings, introduce myself to others, talk on the phone, and communicate what I need in different circumstances (though usually not correctly), I am just beyond the survival stage. This means, simply, that I don't break out in a cold sweat every time I walk out the front door.

Interestingly, many people are tempted to lose interest and plateau here. I'm tempted, too, but in a different way.

Beautifully, precisely spoken Spanish is a carrot dangling in front of me that seems so close on some days. I wake up each day with energy and inspiration to sculpt with more precision this crudely shaped lump of Spanish in my brain. Each time I walk into class I think, "Yes, I will speak fluently one day. (But not today)."

It's aggravatingly possible in the distant future, and yet embarrassingly impossible right now. And that's exactly why it's so tempting.

Where's my verb book? I need to memorize those past tense conjugations.

Public Speaking in a Second Language, Only Possible with God's Help!

Mision Christiana Emanuel Siloh has been a great blessing to our family.  They are mission minded in their community and also see themselves as encouragers to missionary families like us who are learning Spanish before moving to other Latin American countries.

Mark wrote out a sermon in English, one of the members translated it, and then his tutor read it aloud for him to practice.  He preached the sermon a few weeks ago.  He has also prayed in Spanish at services.  Our classes at The Spanish Language Institute have provided countless opportunities for him to practice since we students take turns praying before each session. The congregation has also been very encouraging through this whole experience.

Each week I prepare a Sunday School lesson in Spanish.  The challenge is magnified by the three missionary kids in my class who naturally prefer English.  It's quite a mental workout to have a group of kids all asking questions in two different languages.  God is blessing our time and the children are responding well to his Word.