T.E.A.M.-TELL::
…..Teaching English As Ministry – to English Language Learners

How is an English class an “outreach”?

Our classes are an outreach for our ministry here because we use scripture in every chapter of the book. Because memorization is such a powerful teaching and language tool, we have scripture memory verses in every chapter.

For our short readings, we have paraphrased stories from the New Testament for our Basic level students and actual scripture passages and more complex stories for the Intermediate students.

As we teach the vocabulary included in the verses and Bible stories, we must explain the significance of the words, in context. This explanation often leads to questions and answers, and we gain new members of our Bible studies through those conversations after class.

At this point, we are fairly free to share our Faith in Christ. There are laws on the books that prohibit proselyting, which translates to witnessing on the street and to strangers we meet in public, but so far those laws are not being enforced. However, the laws are there, waiting.

Our class content is not included in the prohibition against witnessing and evangelism. Our English classes are among the most economical (if not the cheapest) classes available and we are gaining the reputation of being the best!

F.A.Q.s about TEAM-TELL

Only on the Mission Field?

NO!!! Our TEAM-TELL program is designed with the ESL (English is a SECOND or other Language) venue in mind. The SELF(c) course is perfect for a church wanting to reach out in ministry and aid to the non-English Speakers in their community. Since the program is totally in English, it is suitable for all non-English-speaking groups in your neighborhood and area.

Isn’t SELF in Spanish?

No. SELF is recorded and written in English and you work in English. The idea is to immerse the learner in a shower of English, repeated and reinforced. As they read the English transcripts as they listen to the English recordings and repeat what they hear, the learners begin to internalize the cadence and “song” of English. They are able to discern words from phrases and become familiar with the verb conjugation and grammatical patterns and structures.

The SELF method is a very natural approach to language acquisition. It is the method by which we all learn our first (native) language. When coupled with written transcriptions, the English learner is able to leverage that first language learning experience to jump-start their acquisition of English. Because your program is offered in an English-speaking country, your learners continue to be washed over by the sea of English around them.

In addition to the English transcription of the program, we have a Spanish version of the readings and a Spanish translation of the readings for workers who want to be able to help their Spanish-speakers with their understanding. We call this foreign (non-English) language recording and transcription a Natural Language Module (NLM).

How does the NLM work?

The Natural Language Module can help the more aggressive language learner to answer their questions quickly and efficiently. By comparing the two transcriptions, the language learner can quickly and easily build a vocabulary. Some language learners prefer to have the bridges between languages built plank by plank, rather than waiting for the synergism that occurs later through the purely natural acquisition method.

Another advantage of the NLM is the teaching of the non-English language to the volunteers ministering to that language group. Let’s just use Spanish speakers as an example. As the Spanish speakers are learning English, their English-speaking volunteers/class guides can be learning Spanish. As they “meet in the middle”, they begin to form deeper connections which opens the hearts for ministry.

Our “ell” group is not Spanish … how can the NLM help me?

And it is our goal to have Natural Language Modules (NLM) for every foreign language group using the SELF program. Our missionary friends using the SELF(c) program in their ministries around the world will be helping us to develop the NLMs for their languages.

Our goal is to have NLMs for all the major language groups that a church might encounter. Even if the volunteers can’t learn every language they work with, it will still be helpful to have the NLMs in the church library so that the English learners can come in and use them when greater clarification is needed.

How long does the SELF(c) last?

Each level of the SELF(c) program is designed to last for up to a year. It is at the discretion of the church how they want to handle the program. The SELF(c) program can be a weekly meeting, or you can have monthly seminars (Friday night and all day Saturday) or a twice-yearly “boot camp” (daily for one entire week and weekend).

How many levels do you have for the SELF(c) program?

Our curriculum plan is to have 4 “graded” courses that will guide the language learners from total beginner to advanced learner. After these courses are finished, we will continue to add additional content that will be appropriate to fit within these loose levels of ability. In addition to pure Bible verses, we will have “sermons”, lectures and Bible studies to use in class.

Our goal is to help you teach English to the people in your community and then to help them become accustomed to the preaching and teaching of God’s Word… so that they can be reached in Salvation and then become working members of a Bible-teaching church.

Is the SELF(c) program the only program TEAM-TELL offers?

No. We are developing our entire “traditional” English program for Spanish speakers and that program will be offered to churches and missionaries enrolled in our TEAM-TELL program. These are the same courses that we are using in our traditional classes here on the mission field.

The textbooks teach English and are written in Spanish, with the explanations in Spanish. The traditional classroom approach works best for us, on the mission field, because we are in an EFL (English as a FOREIGN Language) environment. The listen-repeat or natural acquisition method doesn’t work for us here because it is just too hard for the learners to find natural reinforcement of English.

For the natural acquisition method to work, the learner needs to be swimming in a sea of their target language. They “listen/repeat/learn to speak” in class and then right outside the classroom door is their language sea, offering immediate reinforcement. On the mission field, there is no sea of English! The learners have to search hard to find even a puddle, much less a pond… and you can forget about finding a lake or a sea! So, a more traditional class structure works better for our field.

What if I need a traditional class, but can’t use Spanish?

One of our mid-range goals for TEAM-TELL is to offer the core of the English class, with the teaching portions of the course highlighted so that the missionary can translated just those portions into the language needed for their field. When their text is completed, they will share it with TEAM-TELL for us to offer to our other TEAM-TELL members. In this way, we develop a library of NLMs as well as traditional teaching courses for use the world round.

Should we charge for these classes?

That is a pastoral/management decision to make. While the outreach is intended to be a ministry and to help those who attend, you also have to consider the culture of those you want to help.

There is a universal, human attitude that says “if it costs nothing, it’s worth nothing” and folks just won’t put in the time and personal investment if they don’t take it seriously. It’s possible that the need of the non-English speaker is so clear in the States that you can have a successful program without charging anything. If you can claim their hearts and loyalties some other way, you might be successful without charging for the classes.

Most people charge a nominal fee (which can help defray the on-going costs) and then offer scholarships for those students who can’t afford even that nominal fee. The end result is that the students are not paying for the class! But in THEIR minds, they are paying, either that nominal amount or by pledging their loyalties and promising attendance in exchange for the scholarship.

Why do they need to pay or be loyal?

Because learning a foreign language is NOT EASY! And the listen/repeat/learn-to-speak method, while effective, is not easy. They have to be willing to listen and repeat their lesson at least 2 hours every day and to attend class every week. There will be many, many distractions and they will be very tempted to ignore their daily practice time and to blow off the weekly class… until they are so far behind that they just drop the class altogether.

You want to keep them engaged and keep them working. Their interest level has to stay engaged and they have to place the class high enough in their priority list that they will keep working and finish. As they see results, they will be encouraged. But that same success and encouragement will be a temptation to “take it easy”.

The scripture tells us “for where you treasure is, there will your heart be also”. This principle is true in ALL of our lives, not just in our spiritual efforts! God is reminding us that we care about the things that cost us and that we should invest in those things we care about.

But to answer the question, we can only say that, after prayer and seeking the Lord’s guidance in the issue, follow what you believe to be God’s leadership and be prepared to adjust and refine your approach until you find what works.

A personal note about charging for classes

btw… because of cultural perceptions and expectations here in Cochabamba, we MUST charge for the classes. The first year, when we gave everything free, we started the year with over 100 people… but ended with barely 15!

In this culture, if something is free, it is assumed to be of no value. Also, if they are not paying for it, they give it no importance in their lives. When faced with the choice of going to dinner with friends or attending a free (”optional”) class, dinner with friends wins!

Another factor in the student attrition was the work involved in a class. Learning another language is not easy. When faced with doing the work, it was easier to avoid the work because in their minds they had nothing to lose by dropping the free class.

The next year, charging a modest fee, we started with those 10-15 students (giving them full scholarships, which means that they did not have to pay) and ended with over 50 students throughout the year, 25 of which completed ALL of their work and received certificates.

Their tuition pays for their books, their learning guides, worksheets, CDs of recorded vocabulary and other learning tools. It also helps pay for the upkeep of the classes, advertising, parties and our famous graduation ceremony! This year we hope to have a Christmas Spectacular that will present the gospel to the city of Cochabamba!

The bottom line is this… When living in a foreign country, you MUST embrace and cooperate with the cultural mindset around you. Failure to meet your people where they are will prevent you from being able to lead them to where they need to be… saved, in the arms of Jesus.