Seeking utter humiliation

Language-learning stories are arguably the most hilarious tales told by expatriates who have attempted to practice their conversation lessons in new settings. Never before have body language and pantomiming become so crucial to daily living. You may have heard of someone trying to request a “chicken breast” in the native tongue while at the grocery store, only having to resort to acting out the desired food for individuals with puzzled looks across the meat counter. Or of a shopper requesting a personal item at the local clothing store when he thinks he’s clearly asking for a belt.

Some may be able to relate to the young man’s experience in this classic funny language video, along with this example of frustrations in learning a language.

While my own communication experiences both in the United States and while living and working overseas haven’t left me red in the face on too many occasions, I repeatedly have wished I could speak another language fluently–or at least well–to effectively communicate the heart of a matter to someone.

For example, wanting to tell my “adopted” Czech grandmother, Babička (BAH-beech-kah), about why I decided to leave my friends and family in the United States to live in her city for a couple of years. Babička speaks Czech and Polish, and when I lived near her, admittedly I often relied on her granddaughter to translate. Babička and I have loved each other through actions when words were absent, but I still wish to talk to her in her own language, to tell her about this Jesus who loves her more than I ever can.

Granted, I’ve been able to use my native tongue as a tool in developing relationships and making connections in international settings (i.e., Babička’s granddaughter). Ed Stetzer shares of how one can share the Gospel through teaching English while developing relationships in international settings. I know of Americans who have relocated across oceans and helped establish effective ministries based on teaching English.

Thankfully, people of other nations are interested in learning my native language as their second, third or fourth. Larry McCrary, who has lived and worked in multiple European countries since 2001, notes, “56 percent of all Europeans can converse in two languages,” while “11 percent can converse in three.” Based on 2006 U.S. Census Bureau statistics on the English language, 80 percent of the U.S. population aged 5 years and older speaks only English at home. (Unfortunately, I couldn’t find any other statistics on multi-language speakers in America–please comment if you know of where such information exists.)

Granted, this doesn’t mean members of this 80 percent are incapable of conversing in other languages, as well. Yet living in the South where I can find Spanish billboards and nutritional facts on my groceries, I still don’t know many America-born citizens who can communicate (beyond the occasional mis-pronounced “Hola,” and “Gracias,”) in a language other than English.

Regardless of how well I may be able to teach English to people of other nations, sometimes I think the only thing I’m communicating is, “I’m a foreigner who is too lazy to learn your language.”

A man who identified himself as a believer living in Europe commented on McCrary’s blog, “I can’t tell you the dream it would be to have a group (on a mission trip) even TRY to learn the language…. Americans are generally seen here as nice people, but nice people who think really highly of themselves. That is deduced in large part by the lack of ATTEMPT to speak the language.”

According to this individual, learning the language is important before trying to engage another culture. Taking it a step further, McCrary suggests that instead of only a few people from a church learning some of the language before going on a mission trip, why not the whole church be the missionary that focuses on reaching a specific people group and learns its heart language cooperatively, with the goal of repeatedly visiting that location.

A whole church learn a language and be a missionary to a people group? Is this possible? Effective?

McCrary suggests setting up a learning center or computer lab in an extra room where the congregation meets, and utilizing online and local resources, as well as abilities within the body of believers (i.e. people who already know the target language and can tutor others). He also offers tips of key elements on which to focus when first learning a language, such as the alphabet, basic greetings and expressions of politeness, and suggests following the online news and progress of sports teams of your target location.

If this is something you might consider for your own body of believers, experts encourage you to start now. Almost an M notes Gladwell’s findings in Outliers that true mastery of any subject requires 10,000 hours, which is supposed to be achievable within 10 years.

Learning a language is a journey. Yes, moments of sheer humiliation certainly lie ahead as you learn. Start now. Be patient. It’s worth it.