Lost in Translation
My Norsk learning process requires lots of PATIENCE... both for myself and for people around me...especially my husband...or any Norwegian with the closest proximity :D
In one ocassion, this SILLY thing did happened:
Me (doing homework from Norsk class) : "What is the meaning of 'Jeg vet ikke'?..."
T (reading his book) : "I don't know" (without even looking at me)
Me (confused) : "Howcome you don't know???... Ok, maybe I was a bit unclear... What is the meaning of the sentence 'J-e-g... v-e-t ...i-k-k-e'?..."
T (a bit upset) : " I DON'T KNOW!..... Why are you keep asking me again...and again?..."
Me (irritated) : "I am asking you because I need to know... I am a FOREIGNER...trying to learn YOUR LANGUAGE... instead of being supported...now you are yelling at me!..."
T (annoyed) : "Of course I am upset... You have to imagine... It is almost midnight...I am trying to relax by reading a book... and suddenly there is someone who keep asking you the same question again..and again even though it has been answered!..."
Me (still irritated) : "Hah?... has been answered?.... nonsense... I kept asking you the meaning of 'Jeg vet ikke' and you simply said that you don't know all the time.... It makes me feel ignored...unrespected...unheard... It is so discouraging when I have no support for learning Norwegian!!!...." .
Feeling like a DESPERATE STUDENT, I was stating my opinion in a slightly higher tone than normal and throwing away my notebook on the floor...in an effort to make a point... later on I regretted it as I found it difficult to mend a broken spiral binding (hmmm.... it was indeed not a smart gesture at all...)
T: ".......HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA................" (laughing)
Me (confused) :"Why are you laughing?... I am serious!...deadly serious!!!..."
T: "Why are you so stubborn?... I have told you the meaning and you kept asking me... You have to think about the time when you are asking for something...and don't get emotional easily... I told you that I don't know because 'JEG VET IKKE' in Norwegian means: 'I DON'T KNOW..."
Me: "Really?.... so...it means 'I don't know'?.... Ooopssss....No wonder... I am sorry for being so emotional.... Well...well... as a student, I am more agressive than the teacher, I guess.... "
T: "Yes you are!"
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Moral of the story:
(1) Learning new language is a challenge... be patient, don't get discouraged and be upset easily.... :)
(2) Wait for the right time to ask questions. Some examples of bad timing to ask someone for help are:
- when the person is in the toilet doing his/her natural calls;
- when the person is trying to relax after a long tough working day;
- when the person is on the phone or in the middle of important conversation;
- when the person is in a bad mood... probably due to lack of coffee... lack of sleeping... lack of tea... lack of food :)
(3) Be a smart student, don't ask the same question again...and again.... You have to be clear about your intention when you ask questions: is it for testing your teacher's level of patience... or something else :)
(4) Don't forget to say 'THANK YOU' for any help or support that you receive.
(5) Regardless of how slow you learn, you will have become a more educated person than before. Remember, where there is a will, there is a way.... Where there is a way, there is a hope.... So, don't give up hope of learning something new... :)
