This is a mix of present teachers and students at a games day where we had our graduation from the school. Some fun Khmer games were played that day

Having completed all 8 modules of Khmer at my language school, my language learning now shifts gears (this post builds on my last post about where my language is up to). In order to look forward, a brief look back.

What G2K has given me:

I think their name, Gateway 2 Khmer, sums up their role. They help prepare students to delve deeper into the Khmer language and culture. So in that way they’re a gate. What they’ve given me is what I would call the skeleton of Khmer language. I’ve got the basics and some structure. But a skeleton on its own doesn’t move far. Now I need to go and add some meat or flesh so that this body can move. Plenty more work to be done, obviously. But it will build on the work that G2K helped to set up. They’ve given me a great foundation in the Khmer language.

Not only have they given me a great foundation, but they’ve also prepared me to continue to learn more Khmer post-school. As part of the 8th module in the language course we did a two day seminar on independent language learning, thinking about life post-G2K.

Life post-G2K:

So now my language learning shifts from classroom based learning to independent or more field based learning. I’m excited about this next phase. Part of the brilliance of G2K is they’ve given a broad language entry into various different subjects regarding Khmer life. What I’m looking forward to now is taking that broad base and adding some depth. This depth won’t be across the board, impossible, but will be focused on particular topics—such as delving into biblical Khmer (vocab that I’m only just embarking on).

However, it’s not just about learning new; it’s also about practising old. I’m excited about the chance to use what I’ve learned. One of the phrases that they drill into us in language learning is ‘learn a little, use a lot’. I’m looking forward to this second half of the equation, even as I continue to learn more. Thus, I’ll be making opportunities just to have normal conversations on a more regular basis and going for more fluency.