Read yourself a bedtime story out loud. It may feel silly at first, but it will help you read more fluently. Books also tend to contain rich vocabulary. They have words not typically used in daily speech. Plus, if you read children's books from the country your in, there's an added culture lesson too.
Listen To Music
Anything in the target language works. Hang out with some native speakers or go out and I promise you will hear the current hits in the language. Songs are fun and memorable. Singing along with help your pronunciation and fluency.
Use The Language Even When Others Don't
Whenever I tell somebody here that I am from the States, they automatically switch to English. At first I didn't mind, but now I don't appreciate it. I'm here to learn Spanish. I've been trying to stick to Spanish, but it's very difficult. If somebody you're talking to switches to English, that doesn't mean you have to. Continue using Spanish. They will get the idea. There's no point in going abroad to learn a new language if you're only going to use your native language while you're there.
Learn 5 New Words Per Day
My host mom told me to get a little book and write down 5 new words/phrase per day and review them each night before bed. I'm very glad I did. It's like having my own personal dictionary. The words have meaning and context because I heard them while going about my day. That also means they're words I actually use.
Ask For Corrections
My host mom asked me on the ride home from the airport if I minded her correcting me and of course my answer was no. I gladly accept the corrections people give me because it's the only way I'm going to improve. People don't correct you because they want to embarrass you, though it may happen anyways, they correct you because they want to help you learn. If nobody offers to correct you, ask.
Entertain Yourself in the Target Language
Don't rely on your native language for entertainment. Think of it as free learning. Watch movies, listen to music, read, watch videos, whatever you like to do with your fancy gadgets in only language you're there to learn. I realized that while most of my communication was in Spanish, none of my entertainment was. I was missing out on some easy input and exposure to the language. I've since made the switch and most of my entertainment is in Spanish now.
I felt poopy today. I spent basically my entire day in bed.
Watched church live on Facebook
Day 44:
Today I had community services. One little boy asked me what my name was. I told him, "Morgan". He threw his hands up in the air and dramatically says, "What language are you speaking? I don't understand!" Another girl repeated my name, but with a Uruguayan accent, and he said, "Oh". It cracked me up. They also guessed where I was from. China was the most popular answer. I was able to understand more of what the kids were saying and respond back to them today. Then I went to Spanish. Today was by far my worst day yet in that class. I left crying if that tells you anything. The teacher gave me extra homework, which was to read a children's story to myself and tell it to the class on Wednesday. This is on top of being the only one who is required to write the news that she brings in. She also told me that I need to practice reading because I don't read fluently. I already knew that and have been reading out loud to myself every night for several weeks. I've been taught to recognize those students who have issues reading so it took me no time at all to realize I was lacking fluency. To make things even worse she pointed at me and told me that I needed to practice more before the test. She reads everybody else's papers aloud, but just goes over all of my mistakes in front of them. She targets me and picks on me because I'm the lowest level in the class. I hate that class and really don't care if I pass it because I only need it for to be enrolled full time. I don't need the credits. I've never not cared about passing a class. Day 45:
School and home, nothing too exciting.
Day 46:
I talked to my teacher today. She apologized and told me that it wasn't her intent to make me feel like that. I hope her actions reflect her apology. I don't feel as sick today either. Still congested, but not as bad.
Day 47:
Nothing really exciting today except for the professor writing a curse word on the board. He then asked us what it was in English. Hearing him repeat it in English cracked me up. There's something funny about hearing people cuss in the their second language. It doesn't carry the same impact as it does for native speakers. Day 48:
Today was another visit to a boring museum with my culture class. It was Museo Figari. It featured mostly works from Pedro Figari. Here's some boring pictures to prove that I was there.
The interesting part was the bathroom. It was all frosted glass, stalls and walls included. Therefore you could see the person in the stall next to you and also see into the bathroom from the outside. Super special.
Just for fun, any ideas what this is?
A standard Uruguayan school bus!
Day 49:
I went and got myself a bus card this morning. I was feeling very accomplished until I got on the bus and it didn't work. Gotta figure that out now.
Despite the card not working, I went to the big agricultural expo, Prado. It was basically a county fair, but for Uruguay.
Cow selfie
Moo
Baa
Sheep selfie
Hold me mom
He's not dressed like a cowboy.
There were some dancers, who did like a mini Carnaval parade
Deere selfie
Happy goat
Not so happy goat
Cock-a-doodle-doo!
I don't know what sound bunnies make
Hungry animals
I ate a chivito for lunch. Yummy Yummy
I got on the bus to come home and didn't bother with my card. I have an app that tells me what bus to take and where to get on and off at. There's also a line that shows me the route and where we are on it. My bus didn't follow it. It turned and turned and turned. Nobody got on or off. I was worried, but nobody else seemed to be. We eventually got to my stop and I jumped off and made it home fine, but boy was I sure glad to get off.
Here's a video of some of my sights.
Día 43:
Me sentía mala todo el día. Básicamente no sale de mi cama.
Miré la iglesia por Facebook Live
Día 44:
Hoy tuve servicios comunitarios. Un niño me preguntó "¿Cómo te llamas?". Le dijo, "Morgan". Él respondió dramáticamente, "¿Qué idioma hablas? No entiendo." Otra chica repitió mi nombre pero con un acento uruguayo y él dijo, "Oh." También todos creyeron que soy de China. Podría entender más de su español y responder hoy. Entonces fui a la clase de español. Era el peor día todavía. Salí llorado. La maestra me dio tarea extra, cual fue leer un libro infantil y lo cuento a la clase. También tengo que escribir todas mis noticias para clase. Soy la única que tiene escribirlas. Me dijo que necesito practicar a leer porque no leo con fluencia. Ya sabía eso y he leyendo todas las noches para unas semanas. Aprendí como reconocer estudiantes que tienen problemas cuando leyendo y por eso me di la cuenta que no leo con fluencia muy temprano. Me dijo que necesito practicar más antes del examen. Solo yo en frente de la clase. No lee mis ensayos a la clase como todos los otros, solo me da correcciones en frente de ellos. Odio la clase y no me importa si aprobar porque no necesito los créditos. Nunca en mi vida he dicho eso.
Día 45:
Universidad y casa. Nada emocionante.
Día 46:
Hablé con mi profesora. Ella se disculpó y me dijo que no era su intento para me hace sentir como así. Espero que sus acciones reflejan su apología. No me siento tan enferma hoy. Todavía congestionada pero no tan malo.
Día 47:
Nada muy emocionante hoy excepto para el profesor escribió una palabra mala en el pizarrón. Entonces él preguntó que fue en inglés. Cuando él la repitió en inglés me hizo reír. Hay algo de oyendo palabras malas de hablantes que no son nativos. No llevan el mismo impacto que llevan para nativos.
Día 48:
Hoy visité otro museo aburrido con mi clase de cultura Uruguaya. Era Museo Figari. Tenía obras de Pedro Figari y pocas por otros artistas. Acá hay unas fotos aburridos del museo aburrido.
La cosa interesante fue el baño. Todo era vidrio esmerilado, los paredes y cubícalos incluidos. Por lo tanto podía ver la persona en la cubícalo al lado de ti y también la gente en el baño desde el exterior. Súper especial.
Solamente para diversión ¿Sabes qué es esto?
¡Es un autobus escolar Uruguayo!
Día 49:
Compré una tarjeta para el omnibus esta mañana. Me sentía muy realizada hasta subí el bus y mi tarjeta no funcionó. Tengo que resolver eso ahora.
A pesar de mi tarjeta, fui al Prado, una exposición agricultural.
Vaca selfi
Muuu
Bee
Oveja selfi
Me lleva, mamá
Él no parece como un vaquero
Había un desfile mini de Carnaval
Deere selfi
Cabra alegre
Cabra no tan alegre
¡Qui-qui-ri-quí!
No sé que sonido los conejos hacen
Animales hambrientos
Un chivito para el almuerzo.
Entonces tomé un bus a la casa pero no usé mi tarjeta esta vez. Tengo un app que me dice como tomar el bus. Hay una linea de la ruta. Mi bus no siguió la linea. Dobló y dobló dobló. No sé que pasó pero estaba preocupado. Finalmente llegué a mi parada y estaba cho cho para bajar.
This morning I went to the feria with a couple of friends from Germany. We shopped around for quite awhile. I managed to know 4 people off my Christmas list. I obviously can't post pictures of purchases, but know that they were awesome.
Some cultural things I just can't embrace and these shoes are one of them.
After that I headed home and worked on an upcoming project and test. I also watched a Christmas movie. I was homesick today and something about Christmas movies helps me.
Day 37:
Today was my first day of community service. I went and helped some Uruguayans teach some 5 year olds about color mixing. The preschool was totally different than any that I've seen in the States. All the kids wear smocks. Things in the classroom are made of metal and wood and aren't perfectly sized to the tiny people. Children aren't watched like hawks like they are in the States. Finger guns are totally acceptable as is some rough housing. Classes are very large and I don't think ratio exists. Teachers yelled at the students and that wasn't a terrible crime. The students didn't sit still and listen to the story and that too was ok. The classes were loud, but it wasn't a problem for the teachers. These preschool teachers even had teacher desks. It's eye opening just how different this preschool was from any preschool I've ever seen.
Here's some of our art
Day 38:
Today I was blessed with an sick tummy and a fever. Day 39:
I don't feel bad, but I don't feel good. Laura told me I needed to stay home. I went to school. As long as I don't eat my belly feels better. The only thing is that I still have a fever, which makes me feel sicker than I actually am. Hopefully tomorrow is better.
Cute little old car spotted on my walk
Day 40:
I felt much better today. Only a slight headache and upset stomach. In my literature class there was a cat asleep in a chair in the back. He stayed there and slept through the entire lecture. He's the campus cat and had apparently snuck inside. I don't know that I've mentioned it, but I love empanadas. I'm going to miss them when I come home. They're kind of like hot pockets only better. I'll have to get the recipe, so that I can make them when I'm feeling a little Uruguayan.
Day 41:
Today I went on a field trip with my culture class to the National Museum of Visual Arts. It was boring. I don't appreciate art unless it was made for me by little hands.
Boring
A Uruguayan food that I've fallen in love with is empanadas. I like them hot or cold and at any time of day.
Me + Empanadas = <3
Day 42:
I woke up not feeling well again. Head this time. I did go to the store for alfajores and Sprite this morning. I was wondering through and saw this. It's a play maté set for kids. Cracked me up.
Yes, it's that big a deal here
I saw this game there last week and went back and forth about buying all week long. It's a Colombian game to be played outside. I bought the smallest set and decided that it would be not only fun to have, but also fun for the wedding.
Día 36:
Esta mañana fui a la feria con unas amigas de Alemania. Caminamos por un tiempo. Compré regalos de Navidad para 4 personas en mi lista. Obviamente no puedo mostrar fotos de mis compras, pero sabe que son muy buenos.
Hay unas cosas culturas que no puedo hacer. Estes zapatos son un ejemplo.
Despise regresé a mi casa y trabajé en un proyecto y examen. También vi una película de Navidad. Hoy tenía nostalgia y algo de películas de Navidad me ayuda.
Day 37:
Hoy fue el primer día de servicios comunitarios. Fui y ayudé algunas Uruguayas enseñan niños de 5 años de colores y como mezclan. La escuela fue totalmente diferente de las escuelas en los E.E.U.U. Todos los niños llevan los blusones. Las mueblas en los salones no son tan chiquitos como en los E.E.U.U y también no son plásticos. Son de madera y metal. Los maestras no miran los niños tan cerca. Armas de dedos está bien y jugar bruto también. Las clases son grandes y el ratio no existe. Las maestras gritan a los estudiantes y eso no fue un gran pecado. Los estudiantes no sienten sin movimiento durante el cuento. Las clases son ruidosas. Las maestras en la escuela inicial tienen escritorios. Me sorpresa como tan diferente la escuela fue de todas que las vi en los E.E.U.U.
Nuestro arte
Día 38:
Hoy tenía un fiebre y una barriga enferma.
Día 39:
No me siento mala, pero no me siento bien. Laura me dijo que necesito quedarme en casa y descansar. Fui a la clase. Si no como mi barriga no es tan mal. La única cosa es que todavía tengo fiebre, cual me hace sentirme peor que estoy. Deseo que mañana sea mejor.
Un coche tan pequeñito es lindo
Día 40:
Hoy me senté mejor. Mi cabeza y barriga me molestaban un poquito pero apenas. En mi clase de literatura hubo un gato en una silla en el fondo. Él durmió durante la lección. Es el gato de la universidad pero al parecer se coló a dentro para una siesta. No sé si he mencionado, per me encantan las empanadas. Voy a extrañarlas cuando regreso. Necesito obtener la receta para que las hago cuando me siento un poco como un Uruguayo.
Día 41:
Hoy fui en una excursión con mi clase de cultura al Museo nacional de artes visuales. Fue aburrido. No tengo una apreciación para arte a menos que manitas me lo hacen.
Aburrido
Una comida uruguaya que me encanta es la empanada. Me gustan caliente o frio y a cualquier tiempo del día.
Yo + Empanadas = <3
Día 42:
Se desperté enferma otra vez. Mi cabeza y nariz esta vez. Fui a la tienda para alfajores y Sprite esta mañana. Caminaba cuando vi esto. Es un maté para jugar. Me hizo reír.
Sí, es tan importante acá
Vi este juego la semana pasada y lo pensaba toda la semana si lo quiero o no. Es un juego de Colombia para jugar afuera. Compré el más chiquito y decidí que sería divertido para tener pero también para mi boda.
