Learn The Language, Learn Their Hearts: My Albanian Language Proficiency

While taking an active role in the Language Committee, I was incredibly passionate about my own language learning. Learning a language is learning the key to someone's heart. The most effective method for my own learning was reading novels in the language. I read close to 30 novels, amongst them were the entire Chronicles of Narnia Series, The Hobbit and The Kite Runner. After my service, I donated all of my novels to the Language Committee to enhance their library.

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An email in response to my book donation:

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Here is an email that states my level of language proficiency after my two year service:

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An explanation of what "Advanced High" means and the only level above it is "Superior" which is considered native status and only two volunteers have acheived that level in Peace Corps Albania:

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Below is a piece of writing in which I shared to future volunteers tips for a successful language learning experience:

How I learned Albanian Pre-Arrival

Diana Sarlitto

The instant that I learned of my new home in Albania, I researched all that I could about the country. I went to my local libraries to check out any books on Albania and their selection was extremely limited. Filtering out the enormous books that referenced Albania in some distant war, my options were left surprisingly to children’s books. I found these books to be the most informative, since they were full of pictures and short facts about the culture, climate or type of dress. However outdated the picture of three children holding a Coca-Cola bottle was, it gave me a snapshot of what to expect. And I never would have guessed how prevalent Coca-Cola would be in the culture of my future home.

After tapping into the libraries for resources, I then researched on the Internet for information, as well as, different types of computer programs to use for my pre-service language program. There weren’t many programs that offered the remote language and I knew my price range, so the options were very limited. There was one that caught my attention due to its features, but the free trial phase was the real factor that allowed assurance towards my decision.

I decided on the program that was the most basic, I did not want to have to learn how to use the actual program, when that time spent could be learning the language. It encompassed the most essential component of language learning, rote memorization. The program is called Byki and the link for the free trial is below. The program has lists of vocabulary already embedded into the program and the variety depends on the popularity of the language. There are basic vocabulary lists created from the company, but the more popular the language, the more lists there are. Another wonderful part of the program is that others around the world can build vocabulary lists, which you can upload for free.

The company uploads words spanning from basic food groups to complex expressions and phrases. One perk of the paid version is that you can create your own lists, which was the most beneficial part of the program while I was in the country. While everyone else was creating paper flash cards, I created my own lists and could learn them more efficiently on the computer. This was also a fun game to play with my host sisters as they loved seeing the cards and learning English.

The virtual flashcards that you complete track your success and the program does not allow you complete the list until you have “mastered” all of the words. Once the list is completed, it is then paired with assessments on spelling and comprehension, and a great selection of list activities come with the paid version.

There were many activities that I loved; one in particular was the card game called “memory”. The activity was a “requirement” after I completed the list and took the assessment. The game elicits actual application of the acquired words and this was how I truly displayed knowledge of the language without having to be in the actual country. Another one of my favorites was an activity that had the computer say the word, then provide a pause for you to say the definition or vice versa, and then the computer says the right answer. This activity was great for practicing the spoken elements of languages and perfect to practice while you are driving to work.

Before I left for Albania, I was a full time teacher and still found ways to learn over 300 words and phrases upon my arrival. I know that I had acquired that amount because the program tracked my data and statistics. Learning another language outside of the native country can be quite difficult and although the fact that I was moving there was enough motivation, my statistics and scores also proved to motivate myself and I was pushed farther than I thought was possible without the aid of an instructor. The computer program was a fantastic method and I would suggest this rather inexpensive language program to anyone learning any language.

http://www.byki.com/

#PeaceCorps #Education