This first week of PILAT (Program In Language Acquisition Techniques) has been a busy one. After moving in to Missionary Training International (MTI) in Palmer Lake, CO I had some time to get to know some of the other participants of the program.
We began classes right away on Monday afternoon. PILAT is all about helping you acquire the skills to make language learning easier. It's all about methodology and getting yourself out of the "44 sounds" that English speakers use in their language. Each day has class time as a large group. This time is used to talk about specific techniques or methods. It is a time to see how different methods can be done before we practice them ourselves.
Then, it is time for phonetic drills. We are split up into five drill groups and rotate between the various drill helpers. I never knew that it was possible to hear and to make so many sounds! And, there is still one more week to go! My ears are learning to listen to language sounds that I never heard before. I'm sure I have heard some of them in my travels, I just didn't know what they were. And, I definitely didn't know how to say them!
We also have times to work on language projects, being the ones responsible for our language learning. So, it is student driven during this time. We get to put into practice the methods we experienced in a large group, but this time in a small group. Those of us who are attending PILAT prepare the learning projects and present them to our language helper. Believe it or not, I am in the Hindi group & can speak some, but can understand a lot more!
After supper, there is time to relax, do homework, hang out with friends, walk, etc. I've been walking into the town of Palmer Lake. Many of us walk in the evenings. We have seen a bear and a deer or two on our walks.
And, of course, you have to stop at the Rock House for ice cream at least once!
By the time we walk back to MTI, the sun is setting and it is time to check email, Facebook and work on the paper that is due Monday! Then, it is time for bed and if you can't sleep, you can always count the phonetic sounds we have learned instead of sheep!
This first week of PILAT (Program In Language Acquisition Techniques) has been a busy one. After moving in to Missionary Training International (MTI) in Palmer Lake, CO I had some time to get to know some of the other participants of the program. 
We began classes right away on Monday afternoon. PILAT is all about helping you acquire the skills to make language learning easier. It's all about methodology and getting yourself out of the "44 sounds" that English speakers use in their language. Each day has class time as a large group. This time is used to talk about specific techniques or methods. It is a time to see how different methods can be done before we practice them ourselves.
Then, it is time for phonetic drills. We are split up into five drill groups and rotate between the various drill helpers. I never knew that it was possible to hear and to make so many sounds! And, there is still one more week to go! My ears are learning to listen to language sounds that I never heard before. I'm sure I have heard some of them in my travels, I just didn't know what they were. And, I definitely didn't know how to say them!
We also have times to work on language projects, being the ones responsible for our language learning. So, it is student driven during this time. We get to put into practice the methods we experienced in a large group, but this time in a small group. Those of us who are attending PILAT prepare the learning projects and present them to our language helper. Believe it or not, I am in the Hindi group & can speak some, but can understand a lot more!
After supper, there is time to relax, do homework, hang out with friends, walk, etc. I've been walking into the town of Palmer Lake. Many of us walk in the evenings. We have seen a bear and a deer or two on our walks.
And, of course, you have to stop at the Rock House for ice cream at least once!
By the time we walk back to MTI, the sun is setting and it is time to check email, Facebook and work on the paper that is due Monday! Then, it is time for bed and if you can't sleep, you can always count the phonetic sounds we have learned instead of sheep!
hey Sue! Please tell Travis and Lorna Curry hi for me! I saw them in one of your photos above! We just finished training in Brazil together. Great folks! Thanks for explaining PILAT. I wasn't sure I understood what it was really about. Can't wait to go. I still have a long ways to go financially before I'll be heading to Colorado. Glad God knows that!!
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