I had the opportunity to attend PILAT (Program In Language Acquisition Techniques) Feb 9-20, which is a two-week pre-departure program designed to help cross-cultural workers develop the skills, methods, techniques and attitudes necessary to learn another language (http://www.mti.org/pilat.htm). It made a huge impact on how I approach language learning and I am excited to return to Cambodia with a plan and a new attitude!
Upon arriving at MTI, I joined 12 other families from different organizations who also depart soon for fields all over the world (China, Afghanistan, Angola, India, Peru, Burkina Faso, Mozambique, Thailand, Kyrgyzstan, Indonesia, etc.). It was fun to hang out with other missionaries and share what God is doing in our lives. We spent the 2 weeks in phonetic drills (exercises for the mouth and tongue!) to get use to hearing and making sounds that are not in the English sound system. Laterals, trills, unaspirated consonants, fricatives, glided vowels, nasal consonants, etc.! It was interesting coming from being on the field for 2 years and already having a base of the Khmer language. I learned about sounds that I had heard in Khmer but didn't know how to make; now I do! We were also given lots of great activities and tools for language learning, and as part of the training we got to try these out with a Russian language helper. Khmer is hard but I am kind of glad I am not learning Russian! =) I developed my own language plan that the staff helped me refine. I found the 2 weeks at PILAT to be really helpful and foundational for going back to Cambodia and learning the language better in order to..."become all things to all men so that by all means I might possibly save some." 1 Cor 9:22
Upon arriving at MTI, I joined 12 other families from different organizations who also depart soon for fields all over the world (China, Afghanistan, Angola, India, Peru, Burkina Faso, Mozambique, Thailand, Kyrgyzstan, Indonesia, etc.). It was fun to hang out with other missionaries and share what God is doing in our lives. We spent the 2 weeks in phonetic drills (exercises for the mouth and tongue!) to get use to hearing and making sounds that are not in the English sound system. Laterals, trills, unaspirated consonants, fricatives, glided vowels, nasal consonants, etc.! It was interesting coming from being on the field for 2 years and already having a base of the Khmer language. I learned about sounds that I had heard in Khmer but didn't know how to make; now I do! We were also given lots of great activities and tools for language learning, and as part of the training we got to try these out with a Russian language helper. Khmer is hard but I am kind of glad I am not learning Russian! =) I developed my own language plan that the staff helped me refine. I found the 2 weeks at PILAT to be really helpful and foundational for going back to Cambodia and learning the language better in order to..."become all things to all men so that by all means I might possibly save some." 1 Cor 9:22
Lydia and I hung out as we were the only "single" ladies.
She and her parents are headed to Peru.
Note: On my way out of CO Springs, I got a message from my oldest sister saying that my youngest sister was in labor! She wasn't due until March 9th, so the baby was 3 weeks early, but babies don't care about due dates, right? =) So, around 7pm on Feb 20, Wesley Flynn Tandy entered the world! And they are all doing great (mom, dad, and baby).
