Language Proficiency Test

A group practicing for their presentation.

Tuesday, 18 April 2023 (65)

The presentation went very well today. Most of all the LCF's came up to congratulate me. They said it was well understood and I did a great job at repeating the important parts. I think I did a better job of presenting than some utilizing a few public speaking tricks. While everyone read theirs, I got out from behind the table and looked at my subjects as much as possible. I was very touched by some members of the audience and got very emotional at the end - much as I do in my talks at church. It had the impact I was hoping for. It helped that I picked a topic to inspire and give them motivation for action - to do the small things in order to be an example - we're all here to do small things.

It is a relief to have that behind me. It isn't as stressful as the LPI language test in two days but good confidence to put behind me with the language. Even the language administrator who tested me for my original mock LPI gave me praise and said I'll do great in the field. Now if that helps me any in the LPI I'll take it.

Wednesday, 19 April 2023 (66)

We are at Peace Corps Camp for today and the night. Last day to practice and review for the LPI. The list is posted and I have Tojo for my tester tomorrow. It looks like I'm first up. I feel both confident and still nervous. I know I've put in the time and have memorized and studied as best as I could. Yes, there were many more hours I could have put in but didn't. I am not quite sure I deserve much heavenly help but am counting on some. Maybe this isn't as big a deal as it has been made out to be, maybe it is. Either way, I know they are not likely to send me or anyone home at this point. None of us are that bad with the language although if it was bad enough and if there were other factors like being also insubordinate or often drunk, than yes, there additional reasons why the Peace Corps could justify sending someone home. 

Our country director is here and talked about the excessive drinking and discussed how he's been encouraged to go back to a dry PST (Pre-Service Training). There has been numerous complains here and while we've been on the road and at our sites where people have complained and brought up the loudness and public intoxication that has been common. I myself feel embarrassed by many of their behaviors. I even apologized to the German tourists in Moramanga for our group's bad behavior.

I'm pretty much done with the G58's group chat. There's no discussion there that has much relevance and so many seem so caught up with many things unrelated to our service here. It's almost all "I" centered with petty grievances, inconveniences, or complaints. People post there similar to social media with their party pictures or latest novel experience. Others use vulgarity in spoken and written communication with every other sentence.

It is an understatement that I won't miss most of my cohort and will be happy to be away from this group in just a few more weeks. I wonder how some will survive in the field, like the volunteer who has one or two of their host family's son's bring her gear the half mile to the post office where we catch the van to PC Camp. How much stuff does one need? And wouldn't you have left somethings at Camp in the first place. I bring a change of clothes, my laptop, camera and little else. I left more clothes and hygiene items in my camp room for trips back here. 

Walked into town to get my phone recharged. Walked back and bought snacks to give away. Spoke with several along the way.

Had my last language class before my test tomorrow. We went over all the conversation and dialog I suppose one can encounter on the test.

There's another dance/singing rehearsal to be had in the next few minutes. I'm not planning on doing either and am wondering how much grief I would get for not participating. Maybe my age would be of some help on this. I did discover two others who are not planning on singing or dancing so I am no longer the only one.

Thursday, 20 April 2023 (67)

Thought the LPI was this morning but it turned out to be at 10:30. I couldn't wait to get this over and asked Tojo if we could do it early. We had a good conversation and said that we could do some scenarios at the end if I like. He had his cards with the scenarios on them. He never used them. Instead he went off the script early and ask me about trips to Europe, where I traveled, favorite countries. I was at a loss and likely used only a few phrases vs complete questions. Back to more comfortable areas but he literally didn't ask me about hobbies or the experience and nearly dropped my entire reason for being here. In the end I had to bring it up and gave my 8-10 line answer to why I am here.

Eventually, he said the LPI was over and turned off the recorder. We then spent another ten minutes talking about the people, video and the stories we'd like to tell. He never said I passed or failed and when I did ask him, he said he would review the tape and write it up and let me know.

I think it could go either way. Just relieved it's over.

Others talked to me and all had passed so far. It seems that others either passed with flying colors or their evaluators didn't see the need to write it up first.

Two or more other volunteers who also had Tojo have not heard yet. Staff said maybe by tomorrow. Possibly tonight.

I lay down to nap and when I awoke, I heard that two staff members wanted to speak with me. So here it comes, they are going to tell me I didn't pass the language and will need remedial training. Instead they mentioned the presentation I gave on Tuesday. They had concerns over the emotion I expressed. Culturally the Madagascar people are used to more stoic behaviors from their elders. OK, process the information. Don't try and defend. Basically, they just said I have to tone down my public display of emotion. Got it. By the way, keep your hands out of your pockets and don't put your hands on your hips. Good advice. Moving on. Try not and take it as an afront to who I am. Though one of the staff doesn't have an agreeable bedside manner. Just the messenger.

But as I have now thought about it more. There was something the staff member said about the next two weeks being very stressful. I think they will be anything but. I am now thinking they may think that my emotion is an indication of me having a difficult time and am expressing that emotionally. I think they don't get me, or my reasons, or emotions. 

Just move on and avoid emotion in public settings. It's a culture thing here. Great. Next.

Later, I told the other staff member - thanks for the advice. He didn't make me think I was unstable, just brought up the cultural context.

We had our Host family celebration - lots of talks in Malagasy (translated into English). All six groups of special guests got thanked by every speaker and said the usual flowery things. Our Peace Corps representative Taliyah Meyers did an excellent speach - perhaps the best Malagasy accent I could expect from an American - she could have passed for a Malagasy. There was our dance and singing. Three of us hung back holding a picture, Madi made. The dancers were actually very good.

When it was time to go - I made a present of my Indiana Jones hat to my host dad. Now I should try and find something for my host mom before I leave next week.

Friday, 21 April 2023 (68)

There was a football game (soccer) between our host families (mostly the teenagers) and us (including some LCF's). I heard we won 3 to 1, which doesn't seem to be right but that is what I heard. I actually turned up for 30 minutes and the opposing team looked very good at passing while we were not.

This evening I received the following text message:

"Salama, we realized that you have progressed a lot on your language learning. However, you still need to go higher to reach the level required. You got Novice High which is still lower the level required. I want to encourage you to practice the language because it is the only way to be good at Malagasy."

Not sure what it means exactly, or what the next step is. It mostly just bothers me to think of what some of the others might think, especially if it encourages them to think us older people are having language problems. Which we are. Some of the others who also had the same tester are also falling short of the Intermediate mid-level we are supposed to attain. 

Had lots of thoughts good and bad but I just need to sleep on it.

Saturday, 22 April 2023 (69)

Sleeping helped me look at the situation better. I realize that it is likely an adequate assessment of my language skills. I was mostly preparing just for the test and my tester went off script enough to catch me having conversational problems. If anything - it is probably good to get my mind back to thinking what I need to do to actually be more conversational.

Rindra and I spent time going over many questions I had about words, word choice and word usage. I am the one deciding what I need now and I am optimistically thinking about what I need to study in order to pass the LPI at a better level. Still have not heard what next steps are involved. It was always told us we would not be swearing in with the group if we didn't pass the LPI but I haven't yet heard that. Maybe on Monday the details will be told us.

Switched over to Orange cell service as my phone just eats data on Telma. Also spent more time with Sam. We hit the bar and of course I had soda and we talked till dark.

Thumbnail from LPI Interview

Sunday, 23 April 2023 (70)

A little discouraged today. Did study about a hour or two as I went on a long couple mile walk this afternoon. Also filmed myself about the LPI results and finished editing that piece. I also filmed a short interview with my host dad - Mr. Robertini and will edit that shortly.

Monday, 24 April 2023 (71)

A couple of classes today. One on finding and using a tutor in the field. The other on Motherhood and pregnancy as our initial emphasis in the field is pregnant mothers and children under five (the first 1000 days). Very short classes with the rest of the time being ours. I need to study. 

I heard from the language people that I'll have a chance to retest on Thursday. It seems that there are like five of us who didn't pass.  I believe all of those that Tojo tested didn't get a passing score. 

Rindra and I spend some time in dialog and then talked business. She wants to market her services teaching English in a fun way. I've offered to help so long as I don't make any money or get paid anything. She can help me with Visualegacy's should I do any here. Or she can assist me as I attempt to tell some stories of the Malagasy people.

Three more meals to go. I expect more meat and potatoes. I just would rather it wasn't cold or boiled or noodles without any toppings. And of late, salad had come back on the menu - but I'm not eating much of it.

When it's all done here, I'm likely to come out as the quietest of their five volunteers. Is it me or them or both? I've always had problems conversing as they have a tendency to finish my sentences or just take my dialog as it is. Never can tell if I'm on the money or not. I think we've exchanged maybe four sentences on average at each meal. I'm pretty sure they think I speak badly and they are right on the money. Fortunately, the TV has been on for every meal - including during the prayers.

Host family and I

Tuesday, 25 April 2023 (72)

Last day in Mantasoa. Back to PC Camp tomorrow. Just a few short classes this morning. One on what we can expect to be doing our first three months on site. Another on picking a counterpart that will work with us and eventually come back to Tana in three months for additional training with us. Another on CSB reporting and finally a class on Covid 19 programming in the field.

Everyone seems to be excited to get to their new home sites in a couple weeks. Many are not happy to leave their host families. For many of these young people the families have acted as a support for them and given them food, shelter and friendship. Many have had children who have become surrogate brothers and sisters. Most of these guys are fresh away from home of barely on their own in the real world. 

I, on the other hand have had an elderly couple very close to my age. We've done nothing together, have little in common, but they have been wonderful landlords. U am sure my language took a dive with no one to practice with afterhours or so I did not choose to do so. The food was fine, however cold, flavorful or lacking in spices. But it was also lacking in vegetables and for that I am grateful.

I took a head count a couple times today and noticed our numbers were down to 21 PCT's. Who was missing? I learned from that another female ET'd last Thursday. How is it that no one told me? It wasn't in the chat and there was no conversation I heard about it. I don't know all the reasons for her leaving. I think it may have something to do with some harassment here or at her site. There's the idea floating around that perhaps she didn't feel safe or think Peace Corps could guarantee her safety.

Interviewed Rindra today in both English and Malagasy for my video as well as her business needs.