One problem that I’ve been having is I’ve been far too analytical in trying to learn the language. I’ve been going into class as with an English speaker mentality. Having lessons focusing on explaining aspects of English grammar and then attempt to transition into Tongan grammar have me exploring mental tangents concerning the English language only. The lessons are necessary and I am not saying they shouldn’t have been taught: Our class needed them, what I personally need to do is go into this learning environment with an attitude of a child.
Although, being like a child sounds like a spiritual analogy, it goes much deeper than having a teachable demeanor. So far, in this class, I’ve been trying to tackle the Tongan language by translating what I’ve been learning to how it is in the English language, and obviously I haven’t been able to learn as much as I could have because of that mindset.
The best analogy of the brain and language is that the brain is like the hardware of a computer--the computer alone (meaning no programs or operating system) is useless. Language is like an operating system. It allows the brain to function, communicate and formulate ideas.
My goal going forward is learning how the Tongan mind works and operates so I can become not only a Tongan speaker, but a Tongan thinker. I need to find a way to partition my mind to have a place for Tongan thinking to be done, not just charging at the Tongan language like an analytical English speaker.
Another obstacle I need to overcome is my aversion to anything religious. Although I haven’t explicitly mentioned this in class, I do not affiliate myself with any spiritual tradition formally. Christianity is life for Tongans, and not just spiritual life, and I do not share that feeling with them in the least bit. Not that I don’t respect and find that honorable, because I do, but I do not share those same thoughts and feelings.
Looking back on our semester together as a class I wish I would have focused more on figuring out how the Tongan mind works and spending time on conversational skills, but I am looking forward to next semester and hope that my Tongan will get exponentially better.
Malo Aupito
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