Wednesday, November 30, 2011

A Degree in Translation

When I first got the idea to go back to school to study Spanish (after I had already graduated with a degree in English), I wanted to study Spanish/English translation.  I realized shortly after beginning the program, that there was no way that I could graduate with a focus in translation within my limited two year time frame and I couldn't financially afford to stay longer.  So, I switched to Spanish with a focus on linguistics figuring that through studying the structure of the Spanish language and learning about aspects of various dialects I would improve my understanding of written and spoken Spanish.  But, I have always wished that I could have studied translation instead. 

I keep coming back to the idea of getting an MA in Translation from Rutgers.  I've always felt that a focus on translation would improve my level of fluency more than anything else by challenging me so much that it would force me to rapidly increase my knowledge of vocabulary and grammar.  I'm not sure that anything will actually do that besides being forced to speak, read, and write it in everyday life in a natural setting like in Spain or a country in Latin America, but it remains how I feel in my gut. 

Now, I have a job at a school where there are students of various levels of fluency in Spanish (speaking, reading, writing).  Since the vast majority of the students are not at native fluency (especially with regards to writing and reading), they realize that learning a language is a process (unlike my coworkers who think that native-like fluency magically occurs after a month or less) and they recognize that there are things that they can learn from me (grammar, spelling, some vocabulary).  So, they do not challenge my knowledge of Spanish.  A few of them have parents that struggle with English language acquisition and various teachers have requested, in the hallway or at random points when they see me in the library, to provide them with interpretation services so that they may communicate with the parents of their students.  I agree to do so only because 1.) I believe that the students will benefit, 2.) I know the language, and 3.) I can't think of any legitimate reason not to besides that I'm not getting paid for it. 

The first time I interpreted for a teacher, I agreed to do so for one teacher and then four teachers showed up expecting me to interpret for all of them.  I found that some of the discipline procedures that they wanted me to explain I could not communicate in Spanish because 1.) I'm not familiar with the discipline procedures for the school yet or what the school will actually carry out vs. what they claim that they will carry out and 2.) I just do not know some of the vocabulary in Spanish.  Also, some of the actions that they wanted me to describe that their student did were 1.) very specific and I couldn't think of how to say them at the time and 2.) they did not pause for me to interpret (or even think of how to interpret them).  The teachers seemed disappointed at my interpretation skills (when it was the first time I've even ever attempted to interpret for someone) and they came off as ungrateful and rude to me.  The parent on the other hand was extremely appreciative and lovely. 

Today, was the second time that I have interpreted and I had a much more positive experience.  The mother of the student is Dominican and I understood almost everything that she said to me (except one sentence, which was directed at me rather than the other teacher and didn't really matter since I was only confused about whether she was talking about herself or her daughter and am pretty sure that I got the gist of it otherwise).  I told the teacher to slow down and she gave me adequate enough pauses that I could interpret for her.  None of the information that she wanted me to intepret was difficult or complicated in any way and neither was the information that the parent wanted me to interpret.  It was a very pleasant experience.  I was cordial to the parent and she was likewise very polite and lovely.  She also thanked me for taking the time to be there and interpret for me.  I felt appreciated and like I was actually helping someone.  I was aiding in the communication process helping two people who would otherwise not be able to communicate with one another discuss a child's progress. It felt energizing.  I felt like, maybe this is what I'm supposed to do with my life.  I actually kind of looked forward to the next time that I would need to interpret for someone.  But, I suppose that a key difference is that this time I was only intepreting for two people (three when I interpreted once for the student) as opposed to five (counting the parent and four teachers).  I also made sure early on to tell the teacher to slow down and pause so that I could interpret what she was saying before I forgot what she had said and she actually adjusted herself and did so (unlike in the other meeting where the teachers spoke whole paragraphs or more of discourse at a time instead of pausing every other sentence).

Monday, November 28, 2011

Spanish and Figuring Out New Year's Resolutions

I was looking at Rosetta Stone today (since thanks to Cyber Monday it was $100 off) and realized that I would probably fall somewhere between level 2 or 3 in their program.  It seemed a little ridiculous given that I scored Advanced Low on the Oral Proficiency Exam and that's all you need to teach Spanish in NJ or PA.  I felt a little sad. I mean, I've taken Spanish since I was in middle school (so that's something like 14 years).  I know that I've learned most of what they list in levels 1-3, but I've forgotten a lot over the years. So, I bought levels 1-5, even though I felt slightly embarrassed about it.  I feel like I shouldn't need to buy the program since I've had so much schooling, but honestly, unless I live in a country where Spanish is the main language spoken, I'll never speak anywhere close to a native.

One of my goals for the new year is to improve my speaking and reading ability in the language (and generally just improve my vocabulary and grammar).  I figured Rosetta Stone might be a painless way to go about it.  I'd like to at some point retake the Oral Proficiency Exam and score 1-2 levels above what I did the first time I took it (my life goal would be to score a Superior on the scale).  When I took it in 2009, I had been taking a workshop at Rutgers specifically geared towards the test, been watching movies in Spanish, practicing my conversational skills with a friend over the phone, and I believe, I was reading stories in Spanish as well.  Now, I practice speaking with my fiance's family although I don't even answer in complete sentences (I mostly just listen and nod my head, occasionally saying "si").  Still, I speak in Spanish everyday at work to my students.  I learn new words everyday at work. I should, I suppose, keep a journal of these new words, but every time I do that it seems to be a useless and boring enterprise.

I also want to learn Portuguese within the next two years, since Ed and I plan on going to the World Cup in Brazil in 2014.  It's something to look forward to, for sure.  When we saw Turkey play the US in Philly last year it was amazing (not World Cup, but still pretty good; I imagine the World Cup would be even better!).  I will, of course, have to save a lot of money for this trip.

Ed has switched his research interest to the moriscos.  So, we might go to Spain at some point, which means I need to brush up on 'vosotros' and other grammar points.  I also need to learn the Spanish (Spain specific) words for various things.  I need to save money for that/those trip(s) as well.

In totally unrelated news, I've been watching House Hunters International and been thinking about how beautiful parts of Eastern Europe are.  At some point, I'll have to travel around in that region.  I've always wanted to go to Prague, but now I'm adding places like Warsaw and random places in the countryside of Slovenia.

Saturday, November 26, 2011

A revolutionary idea

I'm going to try and do some of the things that I posted earlier to distract myself and try to make my life fuller, myself happier, and my life generally more interesting to read about...starting with yoga.

Patterns

There's an old Simon and Garfunkle song that says something like, "my life is full of patterns that can scarcely be controlled." I found an old xanga blog and of course this blog, and noticed a definite pattern: not being sure what I should do with my life and dissatisfaction with my current state of affairs. Overall a very whiny, depressed, complaining kind of attitude. I want to get away from that as much as possible. Ed has been saying for awhile now that I should start blogging to get the writing juices flowing (not his words, I'm paraphrasing). I think I need to do it purely for therapeautic value. I found an old entry in which I quoted a former English professor of mine saying that life is hardest in your 20s because of an unavoidable existential obsession. I agree.

It's a lot of the same old, same old in terms of a solution to this problem. What are the ways that I can distract myself from this seemingly pointless line of questioning? The same activities resurface: yoga (to feel more relaxed and less foggy, and either come through it all with breakthrough answers to the questions or simply not care about them any longer), find a hobby, write, observe nature/go camping, travel, study languages, read, reconnect with friends to feel happier and less isolated and realize that yes, everyone is going through the same crisis, volunteer to give back and to realize that I don't have it so bad, etc.

My dog lays snoring in the next room as I type this.