Language

Learning

 Some of you may know that I spent the majority of my childhood in the Middle East & after 15 years now in France I have a fair few years of experience of knowing that feeling of not being able to communicate in my native language English. 

Since World War II, many psychologists  have shown much interest in the different ways in which communication occurs. If you go with Freud’s analysis of group psychology and his ego theory then you might regard interactions in communication as reverberations of family group dynamics that were experienced early in life.
Effective ways of communication is a way to connect people & allow the exchange of thoughts, feelings, and ideas, which as a result leads to a mutual understanding. 
It seems very simple, but it isn’t at all. With an added language barrier thrown in even less so!

We all can tend to take the process of communication as granted,  thinking that it's no big deal & we will just figure it out in the moment. 

Actually the communication process is hugely  complicated. All those messages you send may not come close to the ones received at the other end once they have passed through a big filtering system of thoughts and feeling on both sides, for both the sender and the receiver. 

Every message will consist of content and feelings too. The content is what the message is about with the words used but the feelings are the nonverbal aspects like body language, gestures, facial expression, tone of voice, inflection, and voice volume. 

When I was doing my personal training qualification & exercise to music the non verbal aspects were a huge part of teaching fitness in a class situation. Working with music blaring out,  people trying to see you as you grapevine from one side of the room to another, twisting turning, lifting equipment, stepping up & down &that's s just what you know. There's the things you don't- hard of hearing, vision problems, sports injuries learning difficulties & language barriers...so the non verbal teaching & learning is very very important.

Language barriers are the most common communication barriers which cause misunderstandings and misinterpretations between people &.you could be surprised to know that most of the people in the world do not speak English or, even actually use it even if it's, their second or third language. 

I trained as a secondary teacher before I came into the fitness workd. During my Post Grad we had a psychometric test to show how we learnt. No surprise to me it came our half & half between visual & physical. This was to inform us that the way we learn would be the most natural way to teach, however what about the people in the class that were oral or aural learners? There came the lesson. We had to make sure we were to be understood by all the different learners & communicate in ways that everyone would understand.

In any class it's the same whatever subject so when your in that Yoga, Pilates or whatever I have to try to get through. The challenge even more so online & it was great.

So we've probably all been there when the  words just aren't flowing, or maybe you think they are & you get that blank face staring back at you...or maybe it's your turn to be the blank one. You know when someone repeats the same thing over & over & you still don’t get it. 

Whatever the language barrier though

somethings don't need words. Looking through my door at the view as those beautiful sunflowers dissappear  , the grapes start to ripen!

So maybe it's no biggie,  its just conversation...but what happens if it is. Recently there was a hospital situation & the realisation that this was not a time to be misunderstood made me more than thankful I was understood. If words are power and you just don't have them it can feel demoralising & down right scary at times.

So we sign up to books we want to feel motivated to push our language to be good enough...oh yes been there! This is a my personal thought & why I took a job in 2010 working in a Gym doing classes that weren't mine...I realised the only feeling I had of being really honestly motivated was when I was there literally on stage a real situation where I just had to speak. Now believe me I'm better but there's still a long way to go. Now the books make more sense but you know deep down you need more motivation than just books, videos, magazines & knowing you should be doing it, just like exercise.

This year on retreat we were in Italy, after most of us are still learning the ins & ours of the French language to suddenly be faced with another was a bit daunting. With lots if smiles & hand signals we all got by just fine! We do have a bit of a joke on retreat 'What happens on retreat stays on retreat' ...a serious joke. The retreat space is a safe space created for you to give you the #room_2_breathe to feel comfortable you can be yourself with no appologies, expectations, results or outcomes. Every year we share much more than an exercise space. Friendships are made, memories & feelings shared. Every year each trip is very special indeed...& this year with no exceptions.

In the classes we are lucky we have people from all over the globe, we learn new words, gestures &  phrases. I teach in French & English where necessary ...asking for help when I get stuck & using a whole load of non verbal communication too.... so ➡️ 💬💬🤗...remember though even that has its own interpretations....& you can't make people listen....that's a whole other subject. 

Did you know that 🙏 was actually originally meant to be a high five!! Could be embarrassing!!

My weakness thing ...yes I know is butting in...I am getting better. I guess I just get so excited & can't keep it in...& as we get older with memories not as good I think I'll loose my train...but I know if I do I'll make the person I'm talking to loose theirs...so must try harder!!

By Suzanne