A Refresher Course in English

I admire people who are conversant in multiple languages. A number of years ago my wife and I were checking into a hotel in Vienna, Austria, when I overheard the receptionist speaking to tourists in a language other than German. Later, I asked the young woman how many languages she spoke. She said matter-of-factly, “only five.” She could move from one language into another without hesitation.  Needless to say, I was impressed.

I’ve been a student of the German language since my Baylor days, but I’m not anywhere close to being fluent. Sometimes I think I’ve finally had a breakthrough, risen to a new level of understanding, and then I watch a German film or travel to one of the Germanic speaking countries and quickly realize I’m still very much a beginner.  

When I’m in Germany or Switzerland, I’ve learned that I must listen very closely when engaged with a German speaker. I must hyper-focus on what is being said, otherwise I soon get overwhelmed and I hear only gibberish. Just missing a word here and there can result in taking the wrong bus or train or the wrong trail on a mountain hike. Once, speaking to a Swiss couple on the phone, I thought I heard them say they were driving to our chalet to have lunch. When they finally arrived, pulling out suitcases from the car, we learned they were planning on spending the night. I guess I missed a few words! We were not prepared for our overnight visitors, but, oh well, necessity is the mother of invention. Right? 

Not only listening but speaking German presents challenges. I have to carefully form the words and sentences in my head before I dare speak, and even then, my words come out very slowly. I’ve been embarrassed too many times when trying to speak too rapidly without organizing my thoughts, only to draw a blank and not be able to finish the sentence.    

With my native English it is a different story. I feel comfortable in my language, and I don’t have to hyper-focus to understand every word, and I certainly don’t form the sentences in my head before speaking. I can listen to my wife or our sons or someone on the phone while reading a book or watching television. I speak without thinking, the words pour out of my mouth effortlessly like water gushing from a spigot. Since English is my mother tongue, I feel that I don’t need to concentrate on every word. So what if I miss a word or two. I can still get the gist of what is being said. If I misspeak or lose a word here and there, no harm is done.  

Then in the kitchen my wife says something to me, but I’m preoccupied and the words pass right over me. Later, I’m confused and troubled that she seems distant and aloof. A friend calls and I say something off the cuff without thinking and the conversation turns cold and I wonder why. Several weeks go by and I do not hear from him.   

The old adage sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me rings rather hollow when I think about it. Words can hurt. Words can deeply wound us and leave scars in our relationships that linger for a lifetime.    

Jesus said that we will have to give an account to God for every careless word we uttered, for by our words we will be judged (Matt. 12:36-37). By our words we will be judged! On second thought, maybe I’m not so proficient in English. Maybe I need a refresher course in listening closely and making sure the words I speak can be repeated in the halls of God’s presence—for someday they surely will.