By Jessica Dais — Missionaries who have put in the hard work to learn a second language can attest: There’s something to be said about the special connection that’s forged when you speak in someone’s heart language.
There is a deeper level of empathy on your part, and a stronger sense of trust on theirs. You’re able to move much more quickly from stranger to friend. Nelson Mandela captured this idea beautifully when he said, “If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.”
Learning the local language can help you make a lasting impact in the country where you serve and can help you take your personal relationships to the next level. With the right strategy and tools, becoming conversationally fluent isn’t as hard as you might think.
So, how do you get started? When time is of the essence, the fastest way to learn any language is by immersion. Many consider this method to be a form of “trial by fire.” It involves surrounding yourself with the local language, and not shying away from it.
SEND’s career missionaries generally spend their first two years on the field studying the language and culture, which sets them up for effective, long-term ministry. If you’re already in your host country, seize every opportunity to hang out with native speakers. Go to local events in the community and observe how others communicate, including their body language.
For extreme introverts, it can feel like torture to step outside of your comfort zone in this way. But when you realize that the only thing standing in between you and fluency is yourself, it gets a lot easier to put yourself in an immersion experience.
In your free time at home, the learning shouldn’t stop! Watch the news, movies, and YouTube videos featuring native speakers. Even better, turn on the English subtitles so you can follow along. This process is highly beneficial as your mind will start automatically associating words and phrases with their meanings.
If you want to take it a step further, change the language settings on all your devices to the language of your host country. Subscribe to a blog in the language, or try reading children’s books and listening to podcasts.
As intimidating as it may seem, remember that the best way to become conversationally fluent is to put your skills into practice. Don’t wait until you feel comfortable enough to start speaking with the locals.
On the contrary, you should become more and more comfortable with misinterpretations and miscommunications — these are a normal and expected part of language learning. So don’t take yourself too seriously! Accept early on that it’s very likely you will embarrass yourself at some point. Speak anyway!
Thankfully, there is grace in these situations. The locals likely will appreciate your efforts to speak in their language. Be encouraged by Galatians 6:9
, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
One final tip: Many missionaries prefer to learn the basics of a language before leaving their home country. This is a great way to set yourself up for success. In this digital age, there are fortunately many free tools at our disposal. Here are just a few options:
The path to missions can feel overwhelming! Our experienced mission coaches will walk alongside you every step of the way.
• Find out how you can become a SEND missionary.
• Explore where and how you can serve with SEND.
• Subscribe to On Mission, our free monthly newsletter full of inspiration, ideas, and encouragement for people interested in becoming cross-cultural missionaries.
