"...and a little child will lead them” (Isaiah 11:6).

When I studied in Spain a few years ago, a five-year-old boy named Sergio, the grandson of my hostess, Beni, served as one of my best language teachers. Sergio would sit with me at the kitchen table, after everyone else had left the room after a meal, and pretend to be my teacher.

Child Teacher. As Sergio picked up each piece of fruit, one-by-one, in the ceramic bowl on the kitchen table, he would offer it to me and wait for me to tell him the name of the fruit in Spanish. If I didn’t respond quickly enough, he would look me straight in the eyes and teach me the appropriate word.

“Me-lo-co-tón,” Sergio said slowly, as he held up a peach and waited for me to repeat after him. And after I responded, he would flash his bright smile, clap his hands, and applaud, “¡Qué bien!” [Great!]

Then, Sergio would grab another piece of fruit and continue to quiz me, until he thought I had mastered each Spanish word. As he grabbed a banana, I would always laugh as I responded, “Ba-na-na.” [Sergio didn’t know we used some of the same words in English.]

I bought Sergio candy and toys when I went shopping to express my gratitude to him. One day, I gave him the mini-flashlight that I carried in my purse from home. As he ran to show his mother, he danced around the apartment snapping the light off and on.

Sergio also reminded me of my own grandson, Miles, who was just a few years older than him. And he helped me not feel quite as homesick as I interacted with him.

Adult Student. In studying Spanish as an adult, I experienced both humiliation and judgment. Since I was somewhat shy, my host family often became very impatient that I had not mastered their language. The looks they exchanged when I tried to speak in their tongue were downright de-humanizing and embarrassing at times. They would sigh heavily and roll their eyes. Then, they would speak slowly with raised voices, as they repeated phrases toward me.

I felt so ignorant when I couldn’t find the words to express what I wanted to say. But Sergio always responded to me with patience and kindness. He helped me because he wanted to be with me, and we always enjoyed our time together.

Life-long Learner. I suppose I was too stubborn to give up on the goal of becoming bilingual during my studies in Spain, even with all the difficulty I faced. I now appreciate the Hispanic population in my own community, and the struggles they must encounter to survive in a country where most people do not speak their native language.

I discovered some surprises about myself in my efforts to learn another language. My husband, Dan, became more aware of my weaknesses than anyone. I’m sure he’ll never forget the night he walked into our family room at midnight and found me on our carpeted floor in a fetal position—crying because I had received a “B” in a conversational Spanish class.

I laugh when I think of that particular moment now. But at the time, I didn’t see the humor in the situation. Learning a new language proved to be one of the most humbling and difficult experiences of my life. But in spite of the hardships and disappointments, I enjoyed some of my most memorable and effective teachable moments with my young friend, Sergio.

© 2009 Karen Jordan All Rights Reserved [Re-post from BLESSED Journal]

Photo/Grant Harrison (grandkids 2008)

Photo/Dan Jordan (Miles)

Can you think of a time when a child taught you a valuable life lesson? I look forward to your comments.