MB530: Language/Culture Learning and Mission (4 units)
Betty Sue Brewster, Associate Professor of Language and Culture
Learning
Summer 2004 Pasadena
DESCRIPTION:
Normal language
acquisition is social, not simply academic.
The course deals with language acquisition issues and effective ministry
in the context of community learning relationships. Field-work, in an ethnic community of the learner's choice, will
enable you to develop and refine language learning skills through the use of a
learning-cycle strategy. The primary
objective is to equip learners with attitudes and skills needed for learning a
new language in the context of maximum-involvement relationships (with or
without the benefit of a language school).
This course is particularly useful for prospective missionaries and for
pastors ministering in ethnically complex urban neighborhoods. It
is strongly recommended that couples take this course TOGETHER!
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
• Preparation to be an
effective and efficient language learner,
• Sensitivity to issues involved in
incarnational learning and ministry
• Skill in the process of learning a language
through relationships
• Ability to hear, identify, and make new
sounds
• Competence in using a variety of techniques
for developing comprehension, fluency, and accuracy .
• Confidence in language learning
COURSE FORMAT:
Instruction in language learning and
missiological attitudes, skills, methodology, and strategy; training in
introductory phonetics; group discussion and feedback on field-work and
readings. Class begins on Saturday and meets daily for two weeks.
REQUIRED READING:
Brewster and
Brewster. LEARN! Syllabus. Lingua
House. Pasadena: Lingua House, 1984.
________. (LAMP) Language Acquisition
Made Practical. Pasadena: Lingua House, 1976.
________. (PAL ) Pronunciation Activities
for Language Learners. Pasadena: Lingua House, 1985.
________. (ed.) Community is My Language
Classroom! Pasadena, Lingua House, 1986.
RECOMMENDED READING:
Asher, James. Learning Another Language Through Actions. Los
Gatos, CA: Sky Oaks, 1982.
Larson, Donald. Guidelines for Barefoot
Language Learning. St. Paul, Minnesota: CMS, 1984.
Lingua Links Library 4 (CD
Windows/Mac) from SIL
http://www.ethnologue.com/LL_docs/contents.asp
Marshall, Terry. Whole World Guide to
Language Learning. Yarmouth, ME: Intercultural Press, 1989.
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. Scouting and four field experiences in the
context of relationships in the ethnic community of the learner’s choice, to
gain experience in using the language learning cycle.
2. One in-class quiz to demonstrate understanding of the methodology.
3. Two-page reading reports on each of the readings.
4. Prepare a fluency tape to demonstrate development of skills in taping.
5. A paper to project the learner’s personal learning opportunity and strategy.
6. In lieu of a final exam, each learner will say in class the material learned
in field-work.
Th.M: Greater analytical depth
in writing assignments. In addition, choose one
of these:
1. Complete one additional learning cycle.
2. Read 150 extra pages from recommended readings and write a reading report.
3. Write an additional five pages on the final writing project.
PREREQUISITES: None.
Auditors/non-credit students are expected to participate fully in the
field-work.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM:
Meets Min 8 requirement for M.Div. Program.
Meets CCS requirement for M.Div. Program.
Meets Globalization requirement for M.A. Theology Program.
FINAL EXAMINATION: None.