Learning a language solo or through instruction

I have started keeping a daily journal in Choctaw, which really stretches my understanding of the language. The only dictionary was published in the 1800’s, and some of those words are not used by the Oklahoma Choctaw in present time. Most of the published materials are from the 1800’s in a language that most present day Choctaws cannot understand. My instructor goes over what I write and corrects the vocabulary and sentence structure. It feels like my understanding is beginning to take off. Part of the outcome of working with my instructor is that I now understand what the texts are trying to tell me. Most of the material written for the teaching of Choctaw was developed without linguistic input, and that has hindered the clarity of the descriptions of the language. Leroy, my instructor, and I are working on clearing up some of those descriptions. We have started with the sound system to see if we can give people clearer information.

In addition to writing, I try to read aloud some Choctaw daily. This helps to build my vocabulary. I also listen to recorded Choctaw to help me with comprehension. Comprehension precedes speaking. The result is that I feel more comfortable with Choctaw now.

Another language I have been learning is Scottish Gaelic from an online BBC program. I don’t really have too much time to devote to it, but then I don’t have to be in a big hurry either. I have been on Unit 3 for several weeks now. I have listened to all the little conversations while looking at the text. I have copied the texts. Now, I am just listening to the transcripts to be sure that I can understand what they are saying. I almost have the whole thing. Just to test myself, I want back to what I had copied, and I was able to read it aloud and understand what I was reading. Also, I know some of the phrases—meaning that I can say them. One of the most interesting things about Scottish Gaelic is the prosody of the spoken language, so I have been working on duplicating that as well. I want to thank Alasdair for letting me read his paper because that gave me a little insight into some of the grammar.

While these efforts may not make me a fluent speaker, they are providing me with some basic language that would help me with learning more in an immersion setting. I recall that even with the little bit of in-class instruction in Navajo last fall, I was able to get the gist of a conversation among a Navajo family who had come for the feast day at Jemez. I find the results encouraging for people who  may be studying a language on their own.