Speak Slower

My students are always interested in my personal life. I don’t know if they are interested in me, or if they are just extremely uninterested in what I am teaching! I was telling the story of how Aarão and I met to some of my students about three years ago. It was during the seminar hour, and they didn’t have homework. So, I wasn’t infringing on precious time for improving their acting and speaking skills! The part of the story that jumped out at these dear students was “speak slower.”

The first time I met Aarão was at the Comunidade de Cristo church in Natal, Brazil. He walked in one evening asking about the free English classes that he saw advertised at his English school. He was wearing a Cavalier’s jersey and jean shorts. Is that an unneeded detail? Yes, but it is a fun tidbit. Our friend, Sergio, also known as Bob, set Aarão up to have lessons with me.

I began the lesson by telling Aarão that he would need to buy a book, and then I asked him many questions about himself. Evidently my rate of speaking was much too fast, because one of the first things he ever said to me was, “speak slower, please.” Language has been a major factor in our relationship ever since.

Now, of course this is an obvious factor in our relationship seeing that he was raised in Brazil speaking Portuguese, and I was raised in the U.S. speaking English. It has been a factor and a challenge at times, but my genius husband has been amazing about adopting the English language. He has been hugely successful in adapting to any language barrier he has come across, and I am exceptionally impressed with this. I cannot imagine studying Computer Science in the English language let alone a foreign language!

I, on the other hand, have not been so successful with my Portuguese endeavors. I have tried computer programs, books, and audio lessons. My most unsuccessful attempts, however, have to do with my dear husband trying to teach me. He has little patience for my linguistic ignorance. The conversation usually goes a little something like this.

Anna: How about you replace English words with Portuguese words that you know that I know?

Aarão: (silence)

Anna: O que você está fazendo? (What are you doing?)

Aarão: (sigh) Você pode ver que eu estou dirigindo. ( You can see that I am driving.)

Anna: (silence - obviously trying to understand at least one word.) O que? (what)

Aarão: (sigh)

End of Conversation. Literally.

This is a typical conversation that occurs between the two of us, but there are many variations. Some even involve my sweet husband breaking out in hysterical laughter at my absurd, spoken Portuguese.

Regardless of my past failure. I WILL PREVAIL! I am not going to give up on this journey! I met with a Portuguese teacher yesterday. She is going to teach me Portuguese in exchange for English lessons.. I am excited and anxious to get started. The goal is to get me to a basic conversation level, so that Aarão and I can speak Portuguese together regularly.

The journey began for us with language as the focus, and it continues on in that direction. I am sure I will be the one saying “fala mais devagar, por favor (speak slower, please)” on a regular basis now, and I am ready to say it!

The students who were drawn to this particular aspect of our story promised to write a theatrical production about us called “Speak Slower.” An original orchestration was also supposed to be in the works! I am still waiting for the production, and while I wait I will continue to “speak slower.” However, now it will be in Portuguese!