Real life language tests
Learning a new language is a struggle. There, now you know. For the majority of us, we dabble at verbs in high school. Some of us go an extra step and spend years learning (dare I say it) Latin. Lingua franca, etc. However, in my time, the only real test was going to church, and trying to stay in lock step with the souls in the nearby pews. The Ordinary was never ordinary.
Because I’m a Canuck, I also swam in the deeper pool of official bilingualism. Went so far (about a thousand kilometers) as to move to a larger city where my status as a newcomer was confirmed, on a daily basis, for the next three decades. An accent? More like body armour. I survived.
And now, as I head into that third phase of life, I’m attempting to revisit my roots. Learning Irish, even though nobody in the area speaks it any more. It’s a spiritual thing, in a way that would make my ancestors proud and confused.
Enough with the vague platitudes. How can I test my new language skills? Not by talking to the dog (I have tried!). Well, today I chose a book, sourced it online, placed my order and received the confirming email. All in Gaelic! Until the book actually arrives, I won’t have concrete confirmation, but I believe. And that’s what counts, really.
A confession. I did have to look up one term while ordering. However, I keep a link to an online dictionary, close by. No stress. And the personal satisfaction is worth every penny.
The potato picker is parked. Fresh spuds, soon.
