Resilience

Excerpts from Chapter 1 “Success in Language Learning”

Learning both Content and Language

Ways of learning languages

People learn other languages because they want to communicate. Language teachers around the world work on helping people to communicate. This was not always the case. Language courses used to begin with the study of grammar and lists of new words. But language courses today emphasize practical communication. We call this communicative language teaching. It is becoming more common around the world.

Have you experienced communicative language teaching? When you walk into a communicative language classroom you will often see students working in pairs or small groups. They are talking with each other in the new language. They may be sharing information with each other. They might be doing role plays. They may be solving a problem together. They may be giving a presentation to the class about their country. The new language is an important tool that they are using to make meaning together.

Content-Based Instruction

Not all communicative language teaching is the same. Language courses that emphasize communication proceed in different ways. One way is content-based instruction. A content-based language course presents a specific subject. This subject is studied for a short time or for the whole course. The course writer first selects the content, not the grammar and vocabulary. The vocabulary and grammar come from the content. Because we use language to share meanings with others, the content has first place. But the language is important, too. There are many chances to learn and practice new words and grammar. Students spend a lot of time listening, speaking, reading and writing the new language.

Resilience is a content-based language course. It has been especially prepared for people who have faced difficulties and challenges in life. Its purpose is to bring hope to language learners by combining the study of English language with information and activities to help people handle life’s difficulties. As you will find out in the first few chapters, a special focus of the book is trauma and resilience. Having knowledge about trauma can give you more resources to help yourself. You can use these resources to help your family, friends, and neighbors handle difficult situations in life. Improving your knowledge of English gives you another helpful resource in facing difficulties. Increased ability to read, understand, and use English can provide you with more knowledge. You can use English to communicate with people who may be able to help you. Along with the tools and information you get from Resilience, your ability to use English may one day help you in a difficult situation.

From Zero English to Graduate School in 12 Months

When Willi came to our intensive English program, he could barely speak a word of English. He was 26 years old. He came with the goal of earning a master’s degree in theology from our university. For years he had been involved in peacebuilding and church work in his home country Guatemala. He began his studies in our program at the lowest level. Willi worked hard and made unusually fast progress. By the end of twelve months, Willi was speaking, reading, and writing English at a very advanced level. Even though we believed he would struggle in his MA program, we allowed him to begin that program. Willi got extra help from tutors during his theological studies. And at the end of his two-year MA program, he received an award for academic excellence.

If you knew more of Willi’s story, you might be surprised at the difficulties he has faced in life. When he was just 10 years old, his father was murdered and his home was burned. His father was a poor, hard-working farmer. But he was killed by soldiers for the “crime” of organizing the farmers in his small village into an agricultural cooperative.

One night shortly after his father’s death, he awoke crying. Suddenly, he realized his mother was there, and she embraced him. She took him outside to a small hill, and said “Look up.” It was a wonderful night. The stars were shining brilliantly, lighting up the night sky. And his mother said to him, “Don’t be afraid. The light still shines in the darkness.” When he looked at her, his mother’s face was filled with peace, even in the midst of great suffering. Willi has never forgotten that night or his mother’s words.

Despite many struggles in life, Willi successfully learned English. He earned his master’s degree. And he is now the academic dean of a theological school in Guatemala. He is preparing leaders to work for justice and peace in a country that faces many problems.

I think there are several things that account for Willi’s success as a learner of English. First, Willi learned from a young age how to face difficult situations in life. Willi gained strength and hope from his mother. Like her, he found peace even in the midst of suffering. He entered his first stage of English studies with strong goals. He worked hard learning the basics of English in the intensive English program. The program also offered him some content-based instruction. He was learning about interesting and meaningful things while studying English. Then when he reached an advanced level, all of his studies were centered on the theological content. He was very eager to study theology. While learning this content, he had tutors to help him. They helped him improve his reading and writing.

Not all of you will learn English as fast as Willi did. But you have strengths that will help you be successful. Your strengths may be different from Willi’s. But like Willi, you can reach success by setting your goals and working hard.