Posts tagged ‘learning new languages’
Are interpreters helping or hurting church relationships?
Interpreters can be a bridge
I know the title of this blog post might be “throwing you for a loop” since I’ve been talking about the importance of using interpreters. But I want you stick with me for a few moments
Dependence on interpreters?
In one of the bilingual pastor’s meeting I’ve attended over the summer a friend was talking about how he needed an interpreter. (He was just talking about the passage in scripture about “One body, many parts”.)
I knew what he meant at the time, but the thought occurred to me…”Is he also too dependent on interpreters?”
At least from my perspective, if someone is regularly using an interpreter it feels like they don’t really want to develop a relationship with me. It kind of puts that person at a distance.
I remember when I was working at the bank. They hired an ASL interpreter for one of my coworkers. It helped her understanding what was going on, but it didn’t encourage anyone to talk with her.
Importance of learning a language while using interpreters
I believe interpreters will always be an important part of the Church here on earth. They help connect and build a bridge between two people groups.
But I want to encourage you to learn a new language. Whenever I hear someone make an effort to speak to me in Korean it really blesses me. They don’t always say it with the correct pronunciation, but it does bless me a great deal.
You can use Survival Phrases, which is a free program that’s also available on iTunes. They go through some essential phrases to learn in many different languages and give you a short cultural lesson too.
If you budget accordingly, you can also use Rosetta Stone. They teach you through immersion and, in a sense, force you to learn the language. I really like this program.
Lesson
Interpreters are an amazing bridge in the church. They help us interpreter sermons and songs. And at the same time I want you to learn the language that these interpreters are using.
You’d be amazed how grateful people are when you speak just a few phrases in their language. And, always check with an interpreter or native speaker when you’re learning new words or translating songs.
You certainly don’t want to say the wrong thing.
Are you an interpreter? Have you seen people become encouraged to learn new languages because of your interpreting/gift?
Share your story and your life…
Sincerely,
Peter Park
Blogger/Worship Leader/Speaker
peterpark@redemptionboulevard.com
(800) 453-3284
More blog posts related to interpreters and language:
Remembering native language names
Fingerspelling and ASL
© 2010, Peter Park. All rights reserved.
Should foreign immigrants be expected to learn English? – Part 1
Should foreign immigrants be expected to learn English? That’s a tough question. In a recent conversation with a pastor, who came from Mexico, he felt the answer was a resounding “yes.” It makes sense to learn the language of the country that you plan to move to, even if it is a short term mission trip. When I visited China nine year years ago I didn’t expect people to speak English to me and it worked the other way around too. There were many times when people started to speak Chinese to me. And, yes, the college students there did know how to speak English. They probably could read and write English better than they could speak it, but they wanted to try.
When I think about the multicultural church and wonder whether English should be the primary language I opinion is…it depends. There are so many factors that go into that. If you have found a multicultural church in the United States English should be the primary language, but it should includes other languages within the worship service. If you’ve found a multicultural church in France, then you should be learning French. We can’t expect people to always be accommodating our preferences and our language. There are many people to be reached for Christ and we need to learn their heart language and their heart music.
Share your story and your life…
Sincerely,
Peter Park
Blogger/Worship Leader/Speaker
peterpark@redemptionboulevard.com
(800) 453-3284
© 2009 – 2010, Peter Park. All rights reserved.
Languages can be powerful tool in the Church
Over the last few weeks I’ve been thinking a lot about bible history of The Tower of Babel, Genesis 11:1-9, and The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost, Genesis 11:1-9. The people wanted to make a name for themselves but, it’s God’s fame that we should be most concerned about. Because they were thinking about themselves God confused them and now they were divided. In God’s goodness he fills His people with the Holy Spirit and allows us to spread His name among other cultures through the power of language. Today’s Church can do the same. I know as adults we are very busy with many responsibilities but, we need to make the effort to learn, at least a little bit, of someone else’s language. When our Sunday service is over, which includes three languages, we still need to function as a body. Communication through language is a big part of that. There’s no reason we can’t download an audio book of a language course and listen to it in our cars. Tolerating one another’s culture while speaking English is not what a multiethnic church is about. There’s more to it than that. I encourage you to learn another language to reach out to someone who is different than yourself.
Do you think it’s necessary for God’s people to learn other languages? Is incorporating languages an important part of a multiethnic church? How do you interact with people of other cultures when the Sunday service is over?
Share your story and your life…
Sincerely,
Peter Park
Blogger/Worship Leader/Speaker
peterpark@redemptionboulevard.com
(800) 453-3284
© 2009 – 2010, Peter Park. All rights reserved.