Lessons not learned

I had always lamented the fact that I never took a philosophy class.  I wish I had learned some of the classical concepts that I’d heard or read about over the years.  Then about three years ago I had to have my college transcripts sent to a school. Lo and behold, I had, in fact, taken a philosophy class in college.   I really have zero recollection of the class – who the teacher was, which classroom, who was there, and obviously the content.  I’m old enough where I can blame age…I think. (Hey 20-somethings, just wait, it’ll happen to you!)  

Many times we take classes that we have to take and then we move on.  I don’t think I want to remember calculus. What’s unfortunate, however, is that I took two years of Spanish and I know that I would not have been able to hold a conversation in Spanish after graduation.   I looked back at my transcript as I wrote this – for three semesters I got an A and one semester an AB.   Shouldn’t I have been an intermediate Spanish speaker at that time?

Granted, college classes in the U.S. usually don’t meet every day and the language classes are mostly requirements toward a degree. I’m simplifying to make a point.  We know that speaking a new language is a skill that fades pretty quickly if we don’t use it.   But at that time I know I never gained the skill.  I’m really good at memorizing things, so vocabulary tests and grammar rules weren’t hard. But we weren’t trained to speak.  My experience isn’t unique. I wanted to avoid what many of us have experienced in a language class.  

 My first year teaching I started asking myself: If the same students were with me for two years, whether it’s 6 hours of class per week or 16 hours, what would their English speaking skills be several years after my class?   

There are a lot of variables for each student, of course, but that question has helped to guide my language training.  My students and clients get a high volume of very intentional, practical practice with a logical, meaningful progression.

So I encourage you to ponder that same hypothetical: If the same students were with you for two years, what would their English speaking skills be several years after your class?