Immersion or Drowning? A Fine Line

The chestnut cooker is the figure on the left (of the group of three) on the middle"hillside"

I had my first formal "lesson" in Occitan last night.  I am not sure this is the right place for me to be, since it is really a conversation practice class full of people who already can speak the language.  I now have 1000% more empathy for students who come from another country and are expected to take all of their courses in English.  We peg them as slow, when in reality they are coping with enormous language issues.  

I found that not only was I expected to know basic French (how else were they going to translate the Occitan for me?) but I was expected to know poets, and writers and artists. We were given a photo by a well-known-to-everyone-but-me artist, and then people went around giving the Occitan names for the objects in the photo. Then we were given two writings by an Occitan poet, Max Roqueta, and Mirhela, the instructor, read aloud.  Thankfully I was able to follow along, but I had to use my finger to do so.  How stupid did I feel?  But I am getting used to that feeling, and would rather follow along with my finger than be completely lost.  What would I learn that way? 

 

I was able to pick up words here and there.  I did feel like I was drowning in more than one instance.  I had trouble making Mirhela understand that where I live, there are no chestnuts, much less those big cookers that the Occitan people use to cook them.  She thought I didn't understand the word chestnut, and got out a little figurine from the creche tableau to show me what she was talking about. I told her that I understood what she meant, but we HAVE NO CHESTNUTS IN BROOKINGS.  She looked thunderstruck (thunderstricken?) She couldn't imagine a place on Earth with no chestnut trees.  I am going to send her a picture of the place where I live and maybe she will understand.  

I will probably look for a more structured class, one suited to someone who is a rank beginner, like me.  But everyone in this group has been so very nice to me, so I will continue attending.  I can only improve. (God knows I can't get any worse!!)  They encourage me-- one guy passed me a note during class, saying that his wife is English-- and they go to great lengths to make sure they invite me to their scheduled gatherings.  And the most amazing thing happened today when I went to get the paper.  A car stopped in the street, the driver rolled down the window and said, "Bonjour, Carlotta!" (that's my name in Occitan).  It was someone from the class.  I hugged my smile all the way home.