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Chapter 7
Language and
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Activity checklist
Language and Culture Tick off when you

Learning  have completed

each one of these
activities
Language and culture are inseparable. When you learn the  Activity: No More Excuses
culture of people and the way they see the world, you’ll
understand better how to communicate with them.  Mentor: No More Excuses
Some missionaries are reluctant to learn a new language and  Activity: Language and
have many excuses.
Culture Acquisition
Others struggle to set aside time their first year, thinking it is
time away from ministry. However this first part of your ministry  Activity: Tips on Language
is extremely important. Learning the language and Learning
understanding the culture will help you create a base from which
to share Christ well, in the way they need to hear.  Activity: Learning Style Quiz
“Learning a new language is like an invitation to enter another  Activity: Love the People
world. It means to enjoy a new, wider dimension to the world.
The language is a bridge to the new culture where God is  Activity: Topics to
working,” You Jean Lee, Korean missionary said. Understand the Different
Trust God to be your teacher, language tutor and tour guide. Cultures
“There is a resistance that missionaries have in learning a  Activity: Love the People
language, but the real mistake is that they think it is about them,
instead of relying on God for help and seeing the big picture of  Activity: Topics to
why they are learning,” said Richard Morillo, Academic Secretary Understand the Different
of Rio Grande Bible Seminary.
Cultures
Objectives
 To understand how important it is for you to learn a
new language and receive the tools to do it.
 To learn general guidelines to understand, approach,
and know a new culture.
 To develop an apprentice’s attitude, so it can be easier
for you to acquire a new language being on the field.

Language = Communication = Ministry

The missionary anthropologist Charles H. Kraft was asked, "How much time should one who goes to
serve as a two month short-term missionary spend in language learning?" Kraft responded: "Two
months." The questioner continued, "What about one who stays six months?" "Then spend six
months in language learning." "And if he stays two years?" "There is nothing he could do that would
communicate more effectively than spending those two years in language learning."

Kraft continued, "Indeed, if we do no more than engage in the process of language learning we will
have communicated more of the essentials of the Gospel than if we devote ourselves to any other
task I can think of.”

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Culture and
Language
No more excuses!
Acquisition “I’m too old.” “I’m just not good with languages.” “This one is
one of the hardest languages in the world!”
Learning just the language
How many times have you said things like this? They are excuses,
alone will not help you
plain and simple, says polyglot Benny Lewis, who taught himself
minister to this new country
eight languages as an adult. “I discovered that learning languages
unless you also study the
wasn’t so hard when you apply the right method. You also have
culture. It will come somewhat
to stop making excuses that you are too old, don’t have time, too
naturally as these are topics
shy to try to use it,” Benny said.
you will talk about to practice
your language, and by living The excuse itself often prevents you from even trying or working
there you will absorb some toward the goal. Newer studies show that adults of any age can
cultural aspects. learn a language. The article “The Older Language Learner” on
the National Teaching and Learning Forum website, says that
Be sure to study their
recent research shows that:
worldview and values so that
you can contextualise the  there is no decline in the ability to learn as people get older;
Message.
 except for minor considerations such as hearing and vision
Live with them; incarnate loss, the age of the adult learner is not a major factor in
yourself into their culture and language acquisition;
develop relationships.
 the context in which adults learn is the major influence on
Take part where the culture is their ability to acquire the new language.
transmitted informally: in
homes, markets, weddings, “It’s never too late to learn another language. Surprisingly, under
birthday parties, funerals, controlled conditions adults turn out to be better than children
religious celebrations, etc. at acquiring a new language skill,” says the New Scientist
Start to love the people as God Website.
does. Typically we rate languages by how hard they are, but is it really
“When the people of the important how they rate? “Learning Chinese is hard” has
country saw that I knew their seemingly become a popular world-wide excuse. Is Chinese really
language, they told me it was a that hard? Chinese Language professor Cao Xiuling from Jiangxi
demonstration of respect and thinks that whether a language is hard or not depends on one’s
appreciation to them,” a personal experiences in study and communication.
missionary in Brazil said. Stop making excuses, find out your own strengths, get learning
and get speaking.

Culture and
No more excuses!
Language
Write down some of the points from the
Acquisition previous reading. Plan to put them in a place
where you will see them when you start to
Look over the document: study the language.
“Language and Culture
Acquisition” in the resource
Talk with your mentor about how you feel and
folder. Talk through the ideas what excuses you will NOT use now in
with a friend who has also language learning. What will you tell yourself
studied a language and culture when excuses come to mind?
before.
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Reasons to Master the Language

According to Allan Lee, in Missiological Meditation, a missionary who does not take the time to
become proficient in the language might find themselves in the following situations:

He could feel compelled to accept an inferior role to his call and capability due to lack of language
proficiency. He will waste his talent and experience because he is not able to communicate
properly.

It is very possible that He won’t understand the culture properly either. And it would be worse if,
due to his years of service, the agency gives him a leadership position then he teaches new
missionaries his wrong concepts about the people and their culture.

He cannot receive important feedback. Maybe the local people have important matters to clarify
with the missionary but, knowing he won’t understand them with his limited vocabulary, they
remain silent. Meanwhile the missionary thinks that everything is going wonderfully.

He can feel frustrated and leave the field before the time He was commissioned to stay.
He can feel frustrated, but instead of leaving the field, he takes refuge in others who speak his
language. Then, instead of relating to local people, he looks for any pretext to be with other people
who speak his own language.

Like a Baby?
Don’t let looking like a baby, who is just learning how to walk, intimidate
you and affect your self-esteem.

“Being an independent person who communicates fluently in your own

language, you now have to experience life again like a child. It can be
traumatic when you do not understand everything and can’t express
yourself freely,” says Carlos Pinto, missionary and psychologist.

Humility is necessary because you’ll depend on others in the beginning and you’ll often ask them for
help. Having a teachable spirit is very important for you to learn a language more easily.

Notice how infants learn language. Babies listen for about a year before they begin talking. Then
they learn speaking and pronunciation by imitation. They don't even begin reading and writing until
age 5 or so. Thus, the foundation of learning a language is listening.

While you might feel like you are in diapers again, polyglot Benny Lewis, who taught himself 8
languages as an adult, says, “Don’t compare yourself to babies, don’t claim you should learn as they
do, and stop complaining about the fact that you are starting off “from zero” or you will earn the
title of baby in another context.”

Benny says that adults are better learners than babies or children because they have already done
the majority of the work in learning the basics of communication. Some days you will feel
defenceless as a child, but use it as a spiritual lesson in being a child of God in order to later be a
servant of the King.

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Tips on language Learning
Look over the document: “Tips on Language Learning” in the resource folder. Think
about which of these tips you will be able to do easily once you start language
learning.

Learning Style Quiz

Knowing your learning style will 6. When learning vocabulary, I prefer to ...
help you tailor your learning to fit a. write the words alone or in sentences
your personality. Even so, you will b. repeat the words aloud by themselves or say
utilise various methods as a student of them aloud in a sentence
language and culture. c. walk around, move around and do something
while learning the words.
Complete the following sentences with one
that best describes you (there is no right or 7. When spelling a word, I usually ...
wrong answer): a. write out the word
b. spell the word out loud
1. When learning something new, I prefer to ...
c. write the word in the air.
a. read information and see diagrams about it
b. listen to a lecture or discuss it 8. I enjoy ...
c. try it out, build a model or touch the a. reading and writing exercises
materials. b. listening exercises
c. activities in which I take part, role-play, etc.
2. When assembling equipment or furniture, I
prefer to ... 9. When I am trying to concentrate, I am most
a. read the directions and examine the distracted by ...
diagrams first a. people and things I see around me
b. listen to someone tell me what to do or talk b. sounds and noises I hear around me
me through it
c. movements or physical activities going on
c. work with the pieces and figure out what to around me.
do myself.
10. When I think of a movie I have seen, I
3. When giving or receiving directions to a remember best ...
new address, I usually ...
a. what the people and places in the movie
a. draw a map and write out the directions looked like
b. have someone explain the directions to me b. what the characters said and how the music
c. just go there and find my way. sounded
c. what the characters did and how they felt.
4. The following is true for me:
a. I prefer to write things down and make notes 11. When I am trying to memorise something,
to learn well I prefer to ...
b. I prefer to hear discussions or recordings of a. write it repeatedly
critical information to learn well b. say it aloud repeatedly
c. I prefer to participate in an experiment or c. do something repeatedly.
demonstration to learn well.
12. I prefer to do homework in which I can ...
5. After meeting someone I usually remember a. hand in an essay or written assignment
a. how he looked b. give an oral presentation
b. what he said c. lead a demonstration or activity.
c. what he did.

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Learning Style Quiz (continued)

13. The following is true for me ... Results:
a. I really like reading books and magazines After you have finished the Learning Styles
b. I really like listening to tapes, CDs, and music Inventory, add up the total number you have
circled of each letter.
c. I really like going on field trips, etc.
Number of questions answered a: ______
14. I prefer ...
Number of questions answered b: ______
a. art
Number of questions answered c: ______
b. music
a = visual, b = auditory, and c = kinetic.
c. dance / sculpture.
Based on this information, you will be able to fill
15. In a class or seminar, I usually ... in the following profile for yourself.
a. take lots of notes about what the teacher is My main learning style is _________________.
saying My secondary learning style is ______________.
b. listen carefully and don’t make many notes Read the explanation of your main learning style
c. draw pictures while listening. below.
Source: http://www.studyingstyle.com

Visual
Visual learners do well to start with a comprehension based method of learning, connecting toys,
pictures, and actions (all seen visually) with new words and phrases. Video/interactive games also
help. Later, once they have a solid base, they can also include flashcards and reading materials.
Auditory
Auditory learners may have the easiest time developing conversation skills. Language recordings,
watching TV, listening to radio, or listening to music in the target language are all helpful.
Kinaesthetic
Acting out stories or role plays is good for kinaesthetic learners. There is also software that encour-
ages interaction, as well as certain methods of language learning (Total Physical Response, Growing
Participator Approach, etc.). Interacting with a language in a fun way is a great approach to acquir-
ing language for all types of learners.

We each have our preferred learning style, but we all benefit from using all three ways of learning.
Learning a language so we can talk to people requires that we spend a lot of time listening even if
we are a visual learner. We have to train our ears to hear the language as well as understanding its
vocabulary and grammar. If recordings of the language are not available, then it is relatively easy to
record conversations yourself so that you can listen to these over and over until you can catch each
word.

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Love the People

You need to have the right focus about why you are learning the language and culture
of the country you hope to serve. Of course you want to understand them, though
they might be very different from you, so you can share the message of salvation in a
way they can understand.
The following is based on 1 Corinthians 13. Read it slowly and think about how to apply its message.
 If I speak with the tongue of a national, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a
clanging cymbal.
 If I wear the national dress and understand the culture and all forms of etiquette, and if I copy all
mannerisms so that I could pass for a national but have not love, I am nothing.
 If I give all I possess to the poor, and if I spend my energy without reserve, but have not love, I
gain nothing.
 Love endures long hours of language study, and is kind to those who mock his accent; love does
not envy those who stayed home; love does not exalt his home culture, is not proud of his
national superiority,
 Does not boast about the way we do it back home, does not seek his own ways, is not easily
provoked into telling about the beauty of his home country, does not think evil about this
culture;
 Love bears all criticism about his home culture, believes all good things about this new culture,
confidently anticipates being at home in this place, endures all inconveniences.
 Love never fails: but where there is cultural anthropology, it will fail; where there is
contextualisation it will lead to syncretism; where there is linguistics, it will change.
 For we know only part of the culture and we minister to only part.
 But when Christ is reproduced in this culture, then our inadequacies will be insignificant.
 When I was in _______ I spoke as an _______, I understood as an ________, I thought as an
________; but when I left ________ I put way ________ things.
 Now we adapt to this culture awkwardly; but He will live in it intimately: now I speak with a
strange accent, but He will speak to the heart.
 And now these three remain: cultural adaptation, language study, and love.
 But the greatest of these is love.

“Learning a language is a complex process that implies a cultural contact, hundreds of hours of hard
work, intentional study and a clear objective in mind. That is, nobody gets it without being
motivated,” Ronaldo Lidorio, Brazilian missionary and mission teacher.

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Topics to Understand Different Cultures
The following areas are suggested as a good start to Recommended
understand a culture.
Reading
Investigate the culture that you will serve through
Internet, books, interviews with people from the country, missionaries Cultural Anthropology by Stephen
who work there, etc. Of course, for more sensitive aspects of the Grunyan and Marvin Meyers
culture, be careful on how you ask the questions so you will not offend Mirror for Humankind: Intro-
or make anyone feel uncomfortable. duction to Culture Anthropology
Talk with your mentor about your progress in the activity. Take notes by Conrad Phillip Kottak
on what you find out and about how you’re feeling while you’re The Gospel: A Treasure in Clay
discovering these new things. Investigate the following areas: Pots by Tito Paredes
1. Authority. Who is the authority? How do they feel with regard to Connecting to God’s Work in Our
the authority? How do they express or can they express disagreement World by Grant McClung
with the person in authority? Missiology: Our Cross-cultural
2. Values. What is proper with regards to money, time & Task by Larry Pate
relationships? Discipling Nations: The Power of
3. Food. Attitudes in relation to food (nutrition); Eating to live or the Truth to Transform Cultures
living to eat? Is meal time a family time, a social event? How do you by Darrow Miller
show that you enjoy the food? Must you eat everything on your plate Community is My Language
or is there a polite way to decline food? Classroom!
4. Respect. How do they show respect? What’s disrespect? How do by Tom and Betty Sue Brewster
men see women and vice versa? Helping Learners Develop Second
5. Privacy. What are boundaries to them? How close are people when Language Proficiency
they talk? Is it okay to show up at their home at any time, without edited by Lonna Dickerson
being invited? How to Learn Any Language
6. Hospitality. How is it offered? What does it mean? How do you by Barry Farber
reciprocate? Language Acquisition Made
7. Demonstration of Affection. How is it expressed properly between Practical (LAMP)
friends, between spouses, to children, between opposite sexes? by Tom and Betty Sue Brewster
8. Raising Children. Roles of father and mother. Treatment in relation Super Fast Guides: How to Learn
to sex of children. Discipline methods. Any Language by Elizabeth Allen
9. Money. Who manages the money (men or women)? How much is Conquering Foreign Languages:
enough? How is generosity expressed? Do they save? Do they loan? An Uncommon Guide to Reaching
What is luxurious in this culture? Fluency in ANY Language
10. Social Taboos. What things aren’t discussed publicly, perhaps by Tristan King
personal feelings, weaknesses, sex, money? How to Learn Any Language with
11. Conflict Resolution. What is their attitude to conflict? How do Ease: Tips and Secrets for Your
they solve it? Face to face? With a third person? Language Learning Success
12. Humour. How is it used? What is funny in this culture? by Martina Srblin
13. Sexuality, modesty. What is common in this culture? What is Speak Like A Native: Professional
considered moral or immoral? How are Christians different from non- Secrets for Mastering Foreign
Christians? Languages by Michael Janich
14. Death. How is mourning expressed? For how long? What The Pocket Linguist: A Practical
customary to do or say when there is a death? and Highly Effective Guide to
Learning Any Language
15. Worship at church. How do they worship? Who leads? How long?
by Gregg Miller
Is the style charismatic, traditional, formal? How do they pray (one
directs or everyone at once)? PILAT (Program In Language
Acquisition Techniques)
16. Use of free time. Recreation - What is fun for a Christian? For a non See: https://www.mti.org/
-Christian? How much money is used in recreation? programs/COMPASS
17. Stress. What causes stress in this culture? How do they respond to
Also: http://speakfromday1.com
stress?

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