Yesterday, I needed to go buy a padlock because I started going to a gym here. So, I looked up the word "padlock" in my English-Portuguese dictionary and it is "cadeado". So, I left my apartment and looked for a store that might sell padlocks. Right across the street, I saw a store that sold household things. So I went in and said: Bom dia. Preciso um cadeado (Good day...I need a padlock....) well, I guess my pronunciation was not easy to understand. The man repeated what I said but couldn't identify what I wanted. I started to show with body language and say the word "chave" for key...he still didn't understand me....I looked around for a piece of paper to maybe draw a padlock...and then somehow he said or showed me something that was near the padlocks he had and I was able to point to one....what a relief. Then he said the word "cadeado" and I tried to repeat it several times...well, lucky for me he was very kind and I found what I needed...but, as you can see, my life is challenging right now. I can't really speak the language very much and it is hard for people to understand me because my pronunciation is always wrong.
This made me start thinking about my students and the need they have to always improve their English. What an exhausting and tiring position to be in to always have to learn more, do better, keep growing. You can't stop trying to learn or you won't be able to interact. Hmm....I'm so lazy. I don't really have to try to improve at much in my daily life....well, sometimes I try to exercise more, or play music more regularly, or eat healthier...but I never have to try to improve my language skills every day. And, that is what I am really thinking about a lot these days. How hard it is to be in a position where you have to keep improving all the time. You can't rest for long and you can't ever stop. What a hard thing...my students are so amazing that they keep going with English. They are going to be my inspiration to do better with learning Portuguese. Starting today.
I love imagining your body English to describe a "padlock"! I'm picturing a "I'm a little teapot" type gesture.
ReplyDeleteVery insightful post. How great that you have a nice, patient man to help you. it might be a nice practice to go buy little things there frequently.
Thanks for reading and commenting beast !!! Yes, I wish I could remember what happened right before we saw the padlocks...some kind of interesting and confusing communicative exchange was going on. Sometimes I wish I had a video of those moments...or maybe not...and you are right - he will be a good person to go to to shop for other things since he doesn't seem to speak English - a perfect opportunity for me to practice my Portuguese and engage him in some more confusing conversations. In fact, I do need a pair of tweezers....that should make for a good pantomime, eh ? I'll let you know how that goes :) Take care !!!
ReplyDeleteI love languages, they are fun to learn :) you are so brave (^___^). * hug*
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