Oh the shame

So I've discovered something about the education system here. In turn I have then discovered something about myself. The education system here uses the shame technique to get the students to perform. What I have discovered about myself...this does not work for me. My teacher is not mean. He is very friendly and always interested in our health, family, etc. It's just that we are called out in front of all the other students (my class only has four) and repeatedly told of our weaknesses and mistakes. Also because of this culture it is common to laugh at someone when they make a mistake--it's not mean here. Most days this doesn't bother, I can take it. But yesterday was almost too much. I really think a lot of it had to do with the time of the month, but still, there comes a time when just a little encouragement can do wonders. This is a VERY hard language, but my teacher thinks it's easy...maybe that has to do with the fact that he's been speaking it his WHOLE LIFE. I've only been in class two months. I mean give me a break.

I must say, I am very thankful for my tutor. She is very encouraging and also a good friend. Not to mention she is a fellow believer so she desires for me to learn language for the same reasons I do. I really don't know what I would do without her. So I will persevere through the last couple of months of this semester and then next, I hope with all my heart, I will not go to formal class and only meet with my tutor. It's just not fun to feel stupid.