Living faithful, fruitful and fulfilled on the mission field
People are 100 times more likely to listen to your message if they feel like you love them. Think about it. Do you listen more to the people you know like you? Don’t you tend to discard the input of those you know don’t enjoy being around you very much?
“Ughh. Not again! Another day of language learning. Why not quit? I can already understand and speak more than a lot of people.” These, and other negative thoughts cross my mind as I stare at my language books. Language learning is hard work. You need …
I am a very goal oriented person. When I don’t achieve my goals or continually hit barriers, I can feel discouraged. The temptation to give up and throw out the goal is huge. Language learning goals are some of the easiest in our lives to let go of.
“Maybe I already speak well enough?” we think to ourselves. “I have enough to get by. After all, I’ve been here for several years now and it’s time I started producing something!”
We let go of our original dream of speaking with local people about the deeper things of God. It is easy to settle for market fluency. You can get around, buy stuff, take public transport, etc. We lower our standards…and our hopes.
Sadly, we often give up when we are really not that far from fluency.
The biggest danger in language learning is when we quit learning. The temptation is strong after you’ve been at it (language learning) for a few months or years. The pull is there to be okay with not speaking the language well. After all, many others around you can’t speak the language well!
We reach a certain language level and stop pressing forward. It begins to feel okay to use translators, rather than continuing to put in the effort. No longer do we push forward toward fluency. Does this sound like you or someone you know?
I am not saying we should be performance oriented, or beat ourselves up if we are making slow progress. I am saying – you can’t afford to give up!
Learning a new language is a long process. It requires consistent ongoing effort. Small steady steps forward and good habits will take you to your destination of fluency, even if it is a long road. Don’t settle for less than that.
Today, I am pulling out my language learning books and recordings…once again. I am looking at my schedule and making sure that there is a slot in my life for studying Thai. I’ve had a season with an intense schedule and have been sick. Habits (in more areas than this one) got a bit off track. It is time to review my goals and get started again.
Inside me, I feel the tug of a temptation to not include this in my life. There are so many other things that feel more fulfilling and productive.
Experience has taught me one thing though. It is worth it to consistently plod forward with language learning. One day, when I share the gospel in this language and introduce someone to Jesus, it will feel worth it! So today, I’m writing to you, but I am reminding myself of this as well! I can’t afford to give up and neither can you.
“Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:4 NIV
These are the things I recommend when you start to get off track or want to give up on your language learning goals.
It is so tempting at this point to stop trying altogether. We face language learning weariness. It takes energy to attempt to speak. Not everyone wants to hear your bad Thai (or whatever language you are learning).
“Sawatdee ka. Sabaidee mai ka?” I ask.
“I’m fine. How are you?” they respond.
Arggh! Once again my attempt to speak with someone ended up in English. Does this ever happen to you? You try, but the person you are speaking to acts like it’s too painful to try to talk to you in your new language? They want to put you out of your misery.
Refuse to give in. Keep using what you know even if they respond in English (or French or Portuguese).
The longer you live in the country, the more you are expected to produce something in ministry. You expect more of yourself as well. You may no longer have the luxury of doing language study full-time (if you ever did.)
Make language study and practice part of your schedule and daily routine. Taking even 10-15 minutes a day will carry you forward. Giving no time for language learning will not.
Consistent daily habits of study work better than studying for a long time every few weeks.
You might also consider where else you could add language learning to your life. I like to listen to my new recorded vocabulary words when I am driving or gardening.
Keep a notebook handy to record new words you hear spoken. Routinely ask, “What is this word or phrase in ______?” Many find it helpful to quickly record those words on their smartphones.
Stay in a learning mindset. It will take you far. After you have learned the first few thousand words in a language, it is much easier to add new vocabulary. Whenever possible, begin to immediately use those new words in daily life.
It’s time for action. Which one of these three things will you do this week? Let me know in the comments below.
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