1 Cor 14:10-11(NIV) ‘Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning.  If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker and he is a foreigner to me.’

On a short-term mission trip it is helpful if you can learn some of the local language.  Knowing some of the key words and phrases helps in your communication with everyone from taxi drivers and market stall holders to the people you are seeking to be involved with in ministry.  Communicating in the native language of the people certainly assists as you seek to share the gospel with people and to join with them in worship.

Language is an important key to a culture.  It can give you insights into how people think, what they value, how their social structures work and enable you to develop relationships with the local people.

Learning a new language can be an enormous challenge, and appears to be much easier for children than for older adults. In many countries, if you stick to the ‘tourist zones’ then you can get away with only speaking English but learning some of the local language is a great sign of your respect for the people and shows them that you are trying to understand more of their context and culture.

Some travel guides have a basic language phrase book or you could buy a bi-lingual dictionary.  Many short-term teams have a few days orientation at their destination and during this period seek to learn some of the key words and phrases.

Another great option for language learning could start well before you leave Australia.  As part of your research and team preparation you may like to meet with a native speaker from the country you are going to visit.  (It might be easier to find this person if you live in a multicultural city rather than in a country location but no matter where you live it is worth asking around to see if you can meet with someone.)  This person might be able to help you learn some basic words and phrases.

You could ask them questions like:

• What sounds in your language do English speaking people find difficult to make?

• How do people greet one another?

• Do I greet people of different ages and of different sex to me in different ways?

• How do I say: please, thank you, I’m sorry?

• If I was in danger, what would I call out to get help?

• Can you teach me how to say ‘What is this?’

• What are the names of basic food items?

• What are the words for numbers and money?