DROWNING in Portuguese!

Alright, I am now officially "out of my comfort zone".  Sometimes someone will ask me to do something and then say "Are you comfortable with that?"  My inner answer is usually-  no.  

I know that "immersion training" is the most effective way to learn a language.  

But after awhile - I must come up for air!

Craig is learning a lot quickly and has the additional task to learn "legalese" in Portuguese.

Everyone in his office speaks English but he has asked them to "fala sua lingua"

Speak your language.

I always thought it would be fun and interesting to learn a new language, but I was

 never motivated or had a good reason to invest the time and energy required.  

Now I am really trying and my progress is sure but painfully slow.  

This is a list of what I am doing.

1. Most days, we read one chapter of the Book of Mormon in English and follow along while listening in Portuguese on LDS.org

2.  I have 2 hours per week of private tutoring.  (or "private torturing":)

                                                                               

   This is our Portuguese teacher and friend Christina.  She goes by Kryz. 

She has taught many (some prominent) Mormons over the years. 

She is not a member, yet....  I asked her why and the only answer she gave was that her mother is Catholic and it would be disloyal.  

We didn't have time that day for further comment......

3.  I do an hour each day - 

of private study homework in my workbook and talking to myself

or reading and following along a conference talk in both languages (one per week), 

or watching Portuguese cartoon dvds 

4.  I listen to language cd's that are on my iPod at random times during every day 

moving to the next lesson every 2 weeks.

5.  I go to the Temple twice a week and listen to and practice saying/reading the ordinances and dialogs that I know in English.  This is a primary goal for me.  To "function" effectively, in the Temple.

          So we are doing our best to learn.  

It is more difficult than I expected, there is all these complicated and frustrating RULES!

that make no sense at all (kind of like English)

 and it is easy to become discouraged.  

But with faith, putting my best effort every day, 

  that will be good enough.  

Not being able to speak the language makes it feel impossible to "share the gospel"!  

The elders and sisters at the CTM make it look so easy.  

And my friend Cookie was so good at it.

I have learned that I must examine my motives to wanting a 2nd language.  

Is it for me or is it to serve others?  I believe this is probably the key to receiving "the gift".

This Sunday will be my first opportunity to bare my testimony in Portuguese,

Kryz has been helping me, so ready or not~

I use google translate a lot when I am sending emails but there are issues with that~  

When I typed in "Sister Hall" - it came back as "Sister Municipal"! 

 Glad I caught it before I "sent":)

One day during a lesson, I was trying to translate: 

"I have some neighbors to visit" and it came out as 

"I have some neighbors to sell."  Krys just raised her eyebrows.

(I would NEVER sell my neighbors.  They are the best...)

The following are illustrations of what can happen when you are in a 

different culture and language.

I fear that people like me, living in Brazil, are sometimes leaving behind 

ridiculous manifestations of our efforts to do our best to help!


We are also teaching free English lessons to Brazilian local random people.
Some members of the church, some are not.
Most want to learn English to help them at work or to get a better job.
Craig currently teaches all the "basic" classes.
 Randy comes to help look up words.
The students I have on Monday and Wednesday mornings and
Thursday night in a "conversation class"
already know English a little bit and want to practice speaking English.
 I try to speak slowly and it's a little distracting the way they hang on my every word.
I'm not used to being listened to like that  :)

Thurs. night conversation class - we do this class together


Last week we found out that the "th" sound is almost impossible for them :/

One day a student said they went to the movie "Planet of the Apples".  It's really hard to try and not laugh.   Another said they could not attend class because of some emergency.
I replied that it was okay and he said "Thank you for your comprehension."
Another talked about the recent soccer game which was played "in our house".
 Oh, you mean a "home game"?

Amusing things like this - every day,  keep us smiling.