“Now I can get off at the right bus stop!”
Yes, those were the words someone shouted with much joy in my…phonetics class! I HAD to stop and say, ‘What?!’
It just so happens that he had been overseas for a year or so already, attempting to learn a new language. But he’d never been taught how to say a g-fricative, so he couldn’t say the name of that street, both words of which started with…a g-fricative! So he simply went on to the next bus stop. And walked back! But NOW! Yes, NOW! …after having a few hours of phonetics class…HE COULD GET OFF AT THE RIGHT BUS STOP! 🙂
And just think how many more things our students can do now! Yes, things like learn a new language (or two or three!) well, with hardly an accent. Be able to communicate effectively in another language AND culture. Teach the Word so it reaches them at a heart level. Understand hard-to-make-sense-of new ways and thinking. And do it well!!
Yes, teaching is SO rewarding! Even when one student….falls asleep in phonetics class! (he’s now working on his SECOND language in another country…and doing quite well…and staying awake for it too!) And fun when another student can’t say a rising or falling tone without his whole head moving up and down too.
It’s such a blessing getting to teach and shepherd excited, dedicated young. Whether it’s watching them work SO HARD to make that strange new sound, or getting down deep when considering worldviews, or talking about life on the mission field or just hanging out talking about life right here…they’re a pleasure to be with. And to know that we can be directly involved in reaching hundreds or thousands of lives through their work…now that’s exciting!
Please pray for all of us here at the Missionary Training Center…that we might be the best teachers we can be. And for the students to be able to focus on all there is to learn here.
Wanna come visit and see for yourself? Or volunteer your skills for a week or two? Please get in touch!
Gordon and Janet Wohlgemut says
Great story, Margaret! Blessings! 🙂
Margaret Fischer says
oh your post brings back memories of my phonetics classes, and the fear of not getting off the bus in Brasil at the right place, because of lack of language. I remember going to the same cashier at the store because I knew she wouldn’t talk to me because she knew I didn’t know much Portuguese. So keep practicing your fricatives and labio dental fricatives and know people are praying for you!