Language Training

So when I was nominated to serve in the Peace Corps, and after I received my invitation, I had approximately four Spanish classes under my belt. I hadn’t spoke extensively in over a year, and forgot a lot due to learning Arabic. But I still received the invitation. At the same time, people who had majored in Spanish where invited. As well as with people with less experience.

Before departure, Peace Corps gives us access to an online version of the Rosetta Stone. And it was a good review, but it was also just too boring and too repetitive for anyone to stick with it long enough. Also, many people also got their invite about 4-6 weeks before leaving so there wasn’t much time to sink your teeth into that.

I tested into the language level intermediate-middle, which is the requirement that ALL trainees have to be at before they’re allowed to swear in. It isn’t too complex. You need to be able to speak a bit in the past tense, and be able to function in situations beyond simply asking for food, such as talking about your personal interests or something like that. With language level, the Peace Corps gives you full resources to advance in your Spanish level. Everyone, including the advanced kids, have class for 3-4 hours a day, 4-5x a week. The classes focus more on functional spoken Spanish rather than focus too much on grammar. Plus, just being in the environment allows you to pick it up quickly (that is if you choose to talk to your family and are willing to make mistakes). We do a mix of class work, homework, field based exercises (interviewing people on the street), activities, and conversation.

The second half, after the second interview, the classes here focuses more on the technical aspects of your program and the vocab for that. For those who need help, one on one tutoring sessions are held for 30-40 minutes every day at the center during tech training. The Peace Corps really gives you every reasonable resource to improve with your language skills. Most people here increase dramatically during the first few months.

The Peace Corps gives each trainee a plethora of resources, but it is ultimately up to the trainee to make the effort. There’s no grades, no punishment if you don’t do the homework. It’s tough, but it’s doable if you’re willing to put in the effort. My advice (and this took me awhile to realize) is to just get out there and try to speak as much as you can. Maybe not to strangers, but to your host family who is likely to have hosted trainees before you. Read newspapers to absorb grammar and increase comprehension. And just try. You’ll make it.