 As the end of foreign language school nears its conclusion, it has been interesting to observe the physical deterioration in our fellow inmates. Fresh faced enthusiasm has been replaced with haggard harangued and general twitchiness. Of course there are those few who possess brains that are genetically skewed in favour of relatively easy unfamiliar Linguish upload. The majority of desperate detainees left really secretly hate the gifted ones, although we would never admit that, knowing glances are the only shreds of evidence. Those of us who are still recoiling from the overwhelming shock horror and embarrassment at the brutal reality that our comfortable English directed lump of wrung out nut sponges will never reach the lofty heights of said linguistic superior beings, are now left with the inability to even naturally and easily pronounce certain words in our native language, such is the offset positioning of our fried brain stems. To all, even our really smart ones, it has been interesting to say the least. As many of you have uttered under gasping breaths, blood shot eye balls, frustrated stiffened demeanours and Please God make it all stop now expressions, it has certainly been intense, stressful, confronting, infuriating and exhausting. Tapi, it has also been a journey of outward and inward discovery, a path that many have trod, where the entrails of many have been expelled and where the shredded cerebellums of most hang on walls as trophies to those who came sat survived and departed completely feeble and mush minded. Terima kasih dan sampai jumpa laga. Thank you and see you again.
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 It is written that one of the many recommended activities for staving off, reducing and delaying the onset of dementia and slowing down the signs of Alzheimer’s disease by an extra five years is to learn a new or second language. One should always question the results of any study, although it must be said that if the formation of new neural pathways via the stress and strain placed upon grey matter as its folded brain bits struggle grapple and scream at the insanity of jumbled unrecognizable sounding letters can delay cell damage to the Hippocampus, then bring it on. However, landing in a foreign place to specifically learn said foreign lands language, although sounding very, Eat Sleep Sit Learn and repeat romantic, is most certainly not in crystal clear reality a cruisy neural stroll down the path of peace and pleasantry. If frustration is a measurable indicator, then your flaccid limp brain cells are certainly blasted with energetic boost juice. If placing your tongue in positions and areas within your mouth never explored or dared to before is your bent, then plaque on your teeth and brain has absolutely no chance at all. If you live long enough and practice hard enough you may just master another language, but there are many happenings that may outrun, prevent or stand in your way when it comes to graduating from foreign language school. If throat punching your tutor doesn’t get you kicked out, raised blood pressure doesn’t burst an artery and Dementia doesn’t creep insidiously up on you, then really nothing can stop you, except yourself. The decision to sign up and physically put one’s self through the academy of linguistic gymnastics shouldn’t be entered into lightly. Preparation is the key, except there are no familiar keys to shove into unfamiliar locks. Going with the flow and just absorbing the deluge of information sounds good and rational in what was at one time your rational brain. A sodden lump of leftover addled Alligator meat doesn’t quite compute after a few intensive and invasive sessions of translation terror. There have been many dark clouds on the foreign language learning path but there have also been many shining lights to soften the cracks crevices and gaping holes. At the end of each day it is always helpful to ponder on one recurring fantasy. That one day soon I will be able to eloquently and fluently insult my foreign teacher in his local language from my foreign mouth. All with a really big smile, of course…………. |
AuthorObserving whats real is becoming increasingly difficult. This site is my view, my perception and my commentary on what I believe to be real, from my own unique position. Archives
September 2020
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