Building New Skills

One of my jobs is to develop leadership training and soft skills training. Ever since I took the Learning that Lasts course (4 years ago) and began teaching it I have discovered a love for teaching adults and making learning fun and memorable. Every month I'll design a half day class on a different topic and then teach it 3 or 4 times.

March is the first month in which I am giving these classes! The main goals of this month's class were to learn the difference between collaboration and competition, orient ourselves towards collaboration in the workplace, and have a lot of fun.

I faced a few challenges whilst designing this lesson. The major one was; how best to communicate the primary messages when I am still very much so learning Bangla. I had a lot of help both during the planning and execution of the class to get that part sorted. My Bangla is improving but it will still be a while before I can give a class solo.

Another challenge was to find the right games to play that would illustrate the points but wouldn't need too much verbal explanation. The games that are quickly explained and understood in the West are not necessarily the same games that are quickly explained and understood here (and vice versa).

In the end we played musical chairs, built pyramids in teams using cups, strings, and a rubber band, and told a round-robin story. There was a lot of laughter and joy throughout the class. They loved the new games I had introduced. They also seemed to grasp the main point that each of their jobs is valuable and important and we must all collaborate in order to complete our goals.

I get to give this class 2 more times this month. The lesson plan seems good, I just need to work on my Bangla skills. Wish me luck!

Learning Bangla

It's been a long time since I started learning a language. I've had a number of years of feeling competent and savvy in either Swahili or Hebrew. Even last summer when I was studying Arabic I quickly picked up vocabulary thanks to both of those languages! I was also much more familiar with the Arabic script.

The Bangla script is a piece of art! I've never had a steady hand for art, so I'm finding it quite challenging! I do really like the letter at the bottom of the page though, it looks like an fancy double heart.

It has only been two days. I know that in a few weeks all of this will be so much more familiar. I have to keep telling myself that right now. It is very humbling to be at the beginning of learning a language. Watching others converse with ease while you struggle to say 'thank you'. Watching others create a piece of art with their hand as they effortlessly write a word while it takes me a bit to remember how to write a single letter. My jaw is a little sore from trying to form new sounds and shapes that don't exist in English, Swahili, or Hebrew. I think that means that I'm learning something new, and that is always a good thing.

My teacher took me around the area a wee bit yesterday, my first day of class, including a sari shop! I didn't buy a sari yesterday, but I fully intend to wear one soon! I've been told that there might be an event in the next couple of weeks that could necessitate it!!!

Wish me luck with language-learning and sari-wearing!!!