Three things from yesterday:
…Reading Pamela Brown-Peterside’s ‘African Pearl’: In 2004 Pamela leaves New York to work with an HIV prevention programme in rural Uganda. When she arrives in Bundibugyo she can only speak through a translator; it’s important that she’s understood when teaching hospital staff and advising local women.
Yesterday I read about her first language lesson – learning to speak the local language, Lubwisi. Her teacher, Jesika takes her into the community to talk with women they meet. Learning a new language takes time and effort…
…Watching DIY SOS: Nick Knowles and the team were in Southampton helping a profoundly deaf couple, Ahmed and Rifat Ali, who lived with their three children in a home left unsafe by unfinished building work. We saw 150 tradespeople do ‘six months work in about seven days’ and transform their home.
The couple communicated using British Sign Language. For all communication a BSL interpreter was required – to express their initial darkness and despair, their anticipation and hope, and final delight and gratitude.
…Watching student protests in France: Apparently more than 250,000 protesters had taken to the streets across France. We saw violent clashes between police and protesters. We heard students, some speaking in English, some speaking through an interpreter, describing a lack of teachers, poor buildings, and the need for investment in education.
Communication between English and French required linguistic translation; communication between protesters and authorities requires a different form of translated understanding.
Musing this morning…
Throughout my career I was privileged to see good teachers… those who were experts with four-year-olds… those who worked excellently with fifteen-year-olds… Good communication was more than just speaking the same language.
This morning I read of Jesus relating well to tax collectors and prostitutes but having a problem with the educated and religious. He spoke the same language as all of them; the question often involved who he communicated best with.
Reflecting on politicians, churches… and me (educated and religious, some would say)… not just speaking lots of words in the same language but communicating effectively.
