Test Time

Test - die Prüfung

It has been a quiet blog week. This week Klara and I took the TELC exam. I took the first level - A1. (Klara took a more advanced level as she continues her studies and works toward proficiency). After the months of study I felt it was time to at least try the first level. The test is four parts. Listening, reading and writing are given together in a 1.15 hour test. There are only six students in a room.  The 15 minute oral test is in a separate setting and there is  one other student in the room. The hundreds of vocabulary words, verb conjugations, grammar rules and punctuation differences all merge together in those minutes.

This experience reminded of a few things:

Learning a new language is hard!  And to those that can't understand why it takes so long for someone to learn a language - some of us just need a little extra time.

So many rules!!!!  Oy!

I appreciate the effort that every person takes to learn a language not their first. I also appreciate my husband and the fact that he lived in a country that spoke a different language from his mother tongue for more than 20 years. (I also am mad at him- because I know I will never get such a handle on languages  - especially my accent. I cringe thinking about how I must sound).

Tests are hard. You take hours of study and hope that you remember the four words that they do use on the test.  (For those with kids - be kind to them - they are taking tests all the time).

Learning a new language is hard! Did I mention that already?  Yeah, I am mentioning that again.

Next time you hear someone with an accent in your language - be patient - they are working hard at it - whether it is their choice or they had no choice to learn a new language.

Learning a new language is hard - yes saying it again!

Tonight, we rest! Tomorrow, we start back at German toward the next lesson.

(And  - it will take 6-8 weeks before we find out our results!)