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Language Learning Is Communication - Is Ministry
Book by Brewster, E. Thomas, Brewster, Elizabeth S.
- GenresChristian
60 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1982
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 14, 2013
Internship curriculum. Bonding/Language Learning is a must-read for anyone considering missionary work or even living meaningfully in a cross-cultural context.
This short booklet hammers home that to bond effectively, the new person must come in with a posture of learning. Language learning is extremely helpful for bonding with the new community.
This short booklet hammers home that to bond effectively, the new person must come in with a posture of learning. Language learning is extremely helpful for bonding with the new community.
October 24, 2018
I am biased about this book and much of the Brewster's works to the extent that I bought the rights to them and currently sell them on my website Searchforwisdom.org.
If you want a vision for continuing to grow in language capacity even while you engage in loving outreach cross-culturally then this and much of their other works are for you. If you find that you are not entering into deep relationships because of perceived power or cultural differences. Learning to be needy and taking on the posture of a learner will transform many of your relationships.
John TW
If you want a vision for continuing to grow in language capacity even while you engage in loving outreach cross-culturally then this and much of their other works are for you. If you find that you are not entering into deep relationships because of perceived power or cultural differences. Learning to be needy and taking on the posture of a learner will transform many of your relationships.
John TW
September 11, 2020
Also Language Learning IS Communication—IS Ministry!
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September 24, 2022A metaphor for mission service using childbirth and the psychological aspects of human bonding. An absolute must for anyone preparing for service on mission for Jesus!
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April 15, 2026It's a quick and esay book, more of an essay. Based off the Goodreads reviews, it looks like LTO is keeping it alive.
January 3, 2015
I strongly agree with that author's point of view. I disagree with maybe the extreme of it in saying that one should immediately live with nationals and learn language by rubbing shoulders with people. I am a proponent of the Growing Participatory Approach that is a guided format to barefooting that keeps the new m from ever using his first language to crutch his language learning.
On the flip side, I completely agree with Brewster's perspective on bonding. For example, when my wife and I landed in our country, I had developed a terrible fever and respiratory infection that knocked me down for the first week of our time in country. Then I spent about another week getting fully healthy to where I had the energy to explore and have a good time. During that time, my wife had been going out, shopping, meeting people, and exploring. After selling everything we owned, saying our emotional goodbyes to family, and seeing that everything we currently owned fit into 6 bags; my first two weeks being sick created a barrier for me that my wife didn't have. My excitement window had been shut. I would say I'm still not to where she is. I didn't bond with other foreigners especially either. I have always known it is wiser to keep some distance in my relationships with other foreigners, but I also didn't bond with locals immediately. The result was that I felt crazy lonely for the first 6 months until my language progressed enough to make some legit friends. Had we not held fast to the rule of not making friends with locals who speak English, I think that time would have lasted even longer.
This is a great short read for anyone considering the field or has already been on the field. I think the remedy for someone who has made the mistake of not bonding immediately is to move to a different city in-country and start over with bonding and friendships or move to a different part of the city away from foreigners if it is a megacity.
On the flip side, I completely agree with Brewster's perspective on bonding. For example, when my wife and I landed in our country, I had developed a terrible fever and respiratory infection that knocked me down for the first week of our time in country. Then I spent about another week getting fully healthy to where I had the energy to explore and have a good time. During that time, my wife had been going out, shopping, meeting people, and exploring. After selling everything we owned, saying our emotional goodbyes to family, and seeing that everything we currently owned fit into 6 bags; my first two weeks being sick created a barrier for me that my wife didn't have. My excitement window had been shut. I would say I'm still not to where she is. I didn't bond with other foreigners especially either. I have always known it is wiser to keep some distance in my relationships with other foreigners, but I also didn't bond with locals immediately. The result was that I felt crazy lonely for the first 6 months until my language progressed enough to make some legit friends. Had we not held fast to the rule of not making friends with locals who speak English, I think that time would have lasted even longer.
This is a great short read for anyone considering the field or has already been on the field. I think the remedy for someone who has made the mistake of not bonding immediately is to move to a different city in-country and start over with bonding and friendships or move to a different part of the city away from foreigners if it is a megacity.
September 16, 2013
Must read for anyone who desires to "go" and serve God inside another's context. How we enter into a new community matters and it has the potential for great effectiveness.
The print is older and the pictures feel dated, but the content is timeless.
The print is older and the pictures feel dated, but the content is timeless.
March 5, 2009
I know this book was written a long time ago, but I still think everyone going on the mission field for more than 1 month needs to read it.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews