Decision making often requires discovering the cost-to-benefit ratio of different variables. Many times in life there is no perfect choice. Right now, we are weighing the costs and the benefits of where to do our langauge study of Portuguese. Mozambique offers the benefit of learning to speak the language with the right dialect and only having to move once. Brazil offers better language schools and being able to focus our time on our study and on our family.
Right now we are leaning towards Brazil because of the quality of the school we can attend and the ability to focus on fluency, not just survival in a foreign country. However, we can't afford to send our kids to international schools in Brazil. Which means we are considering putting our first grader, kindergartener, and preschooler in an all-Portuguese class where no English is spoken for a whole year.
So how crazy do you have to be for something this crazy to no longer seem crazy?
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3 comments:
Your kids are at an age where they're still highly adaptable. They'll probably learn the language faster in an immersion environment than you and Amy will. I've been surprised at how quickly my kids are learning to speak Navajo at their new school. It only sounds crazy in a boring, normal-American context of life. Not so much when you're trying to impact the world for the Kingdom.
I'd totally do it, there's no better way to teach them than to just throw them into it. They'll pick it up before you know it.
Hi Terpstras! My name is Jen Hubers. I'm a friend of Nathan Falstad who attends TNL. I am currently working in Beira, Moz. I've also been communicating with the Meyers who are coming to Beira through World Venture - they are friends of a friend from Michigan. I wanted to say hello and encourage you in your desire to come to Moz. :-)
Concerning language - have you considered studying in Portugal? Mozambican Portuguese is much more similar to Portuguese Portuguese than to Brazilian Portuguese, although people here do understand Brazilian Portuguese because they watch Brazilian soap operas. Wherever you go, it's great that you'll take that time to study before you come. I wish I had had the same opportunity.
Best wishes to you!
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