STRUGGLING LANGUAGE STUDENT BUT BEST LANGUAGE TEACHER
Nancy didn’t know what to expect when she arrived on the field. For an entire month, she was wrapping up the life she had had for 35 years, saying goodbye to all the people she knew there, deciding what to bring and what to leave behind, shipping books and belongings, packing and repacking to make everything else fit two big suitcases. Given to anticipatory anxiety, she was quite spent when she moved into the school where she would live and study Chinese for first two years on the field.
God knew what Nancy needed. He led her to a small school with a very friendly staff. Her dorm room was just twenty steps from the classroom. The gym was downstairs with only a few pieces of exercise machinery, but good enough for her. Two local women became her friends although they didn’t speak one another’s language. She also met some English speakers in the neighborhood besides fellow tentmakers in the city. Nancy felt welcomed, and not overwhelmed by the new people in her life.
As expected, Nancy struggled with her language study, trying to memorize hundreds of characters and pass the listening exams. She tested well enough to keep her tuition scholarship. However, she was on the verge of tears many times because she couldn’t get her tones right or remember the vocabulary when they appeared in other contexts. Though progress was painstakingly slow, Nancy never gave up. Into her seventh year, she is still studying her flash cards and practicing on her own.
“How I would love to go deeper with my students in their heart language!” Nancy said. She may not be a great language student, but she is an excellent language teacher. Her students were making enough progress in their English skills that they could communicate with her!
But there is more: Nancy is good at the most important language between people – a genuine interest in and love for people. Thus, she would continue to see former study abroad students, recent graduates, language tutors and friends she made in other cities. Some of them have come to faith, though not directly through her. Still, Nancy felt blessed to have sown some seeds.
When time came for her to apply for teaching jobs, Nancy realized she didn’t fall into the required age bracket. She applied anyways, knowing that nothing would be too hard for God if that was where she should teach. Finally, nine years after she felt God’s call to that university, Nancy got a contract to teach there. Now, with the shortage of foreign teachers after many expatriates had left the country, Nancy is hopeful she could be hired beyond the official retirement age. God’s ways are higher than our ways.
Earlier on, Nancy was inviting students to Christmas parties at her home. To keep the gathering intimate for sharing, she had as many as eight parties in a year. When the celebration of Christmas was officially banned, students enjoyed her parties so much they still came, only without the Christmas trimmings.
When surveillance was stepped up, God impressed upon Nancy’s heart to be more intentional about bringing her students to his feet. She prayed for inspiration and began incorporating biblical concepts and values into her lessons in order to talk about life and living well in truth.
She covered a wide range of subjects. They discussed marriage and family, hopes and dreams, life goals and obstacles. They talked about animal rights, environmental justice, mental health, and disabilities. A student distraught from her newly diagnosed bipolar condition was in Nancy’s class. Instead of dropping out of school, she decided to stay, and Nancy was able to help her.
After Covid hit, knowing her students well became even more paramount in Nancy’s work, especially when they could only communicate virtually. When face to face interactions gradually resumed, some of her former students met with her regularly to practice their English. Sometimes they would introduce her to their friends and questions about spiritual matters would come up. Nancy has also kept in touch with others through social media and emails. Government bans could not stop Nancy from speaking God’s love and truth into her students’ lives.
At the end of the school year, one student gave her this feedback: “This class is not just about knowledge but a lot of truth.” Another said, “Your content is like a seed which we need to plant and nurture.” Someone else told her, “I have changed a lot to become a better person.”
Reflection Questions:
• What things were discouraging for Nancy at various points of her time on the field?
• How did she respond? What was God’s part and what was hers?
• What about Nancy encourages you? How can you bless others in your line of work?