Language File VII: Moving Forward

As we moved forward different members of the team had different experiences and many challenges arose. The greatest issue is TIME. Time is the key ingredient in the language-learning recipe and we are lacking in this spice. If time is not there, no approach will work. The challenge is finding time in the course of an extremely busy day, not to mention a personal energy crisis due to change of nutrition and cultural stress. However, there are not language schools for learning Karamojong and no place to study the language outside of the language community. The situation is not easy, but neither is it a true disadvantage. I am a firm believer that any language should be learned with in the context of a language community. This approach couples language and culture into one learning process.

Is it possible to learn a language apart from culture? Yes, this is one of the dangers of language schools. Is it possible to learn culture apart from language? Yes, this is very common on the mission field due to the use of translators. However, the goal of any language learner should be to learn language and culture in complementary progression. For our team, language learning must be done in the context of ministry and life in Karamoja (the homeland of the Karamojong). The simplest task can become a day’s chore in the bush. The demands of life do not afford the luxury of six hours a day dedicated purely to language study. So what can we do? We can do a lot! I have answered the challenge by not separating language from life, but by integrating the two. When my day starts, my language learning starts. 

Language File VI: Week-One

          Based on the needs of the team we decided to have one tutor for one learner. The tutors had been selected and trained based on the needs of our learners. Or first task was learning the greetings. I chose to use a very simple question and answer model loosely based on the LAMP manual. The process, as described in post IV, was mildly successful. Problems arose when our tutors did not follow the “lesson plan.” When the learners asked questions the responses were not always constant with the pre-planned lesson.  LAMP does have limitations and we found them. If the tutor cannot read, it is hard for the tutor to remain consistent. The tutor might give an appropriate, yet, unexpected response. On the other hand, if the tutor can read, he or she might be uncomfortable moving off the page, so to speak, in answering questions not written in the lesson. All in all, the question and response drills can be stressful for both the learner and the tutor. It was simply too much to bite off at one time. I am realized the problem and cut my greetings by a half. Instead of learning sixteen phrases, I focused on learning these eight:  

How are you?                                                  Ikoni ai?

                         I am fine.                                                         Ejok.

 My name is Robert.                                          Erai ekakiro Robert.

What is your name?                                           Ŋai ekon kiro?

My name is JB.                                                 Erai ekakiro JB.

Where do you come from?                                 Ai Ibunitor iyong?

From Lomusian.                                                Abunit ayong aLomusian.

How is Lomusian?                                             Ekoni Lomusian ai?

It is good.                                                         Ejok.

I used these eight phrases to get over my feelings of insecurity. The first week was coming to an end and I needed to feel like I had a handle on something. Instead of beating myself up over not completing the lesson, I chose to change the lesson, make it easier, and move ahead. These first phrases were the beginning of my language core (which we will discuss later). Every day I used every phrase as many times as I could. Sometimes, I would understand the response, sometimes not. But, it was ok, I was saying something more than, “do you speak English.” It took me several days to get this thin base, but when I did, I felt as if I could more forward with confidence.