Thinking Theologically about Language Teaching: Christian Perspectives on an Educational Calling

Christians can often overlook the need to bring their daily vocations in accord with the reality created, sustained, and purposed through Christ. This is no less true for language teachers, who find themselves at a difficult interdisciplinary crossroads where the paths of linguistics, culture and education merge. This challenge should not discourage these educators, but instead aid them in their journey to form a pedagogy rooted in theological truths from Scripture, one that provides a nuanced approach that glorifies God in a manner specific to the language classroom. The contributors of this book outline why and how theology must inform teaching methods so that Christian language educators might better serve their students with both faith and excellence, thereby pointing them to the communicative God whose image they bear.

About the Author :
Cheri L. Pierson has a Doctorate in Education from Northern Illinois University, USA, and is an associate professor at Wheaton Graduate School. She specializes in teacher education, methodology and English for specific purposes. She is the author of several books including Dictionary of Theological Terms in Simplified English: Student Workbook and Exploring Theological English. Will Bankston is completing an MDiv and MA in Systematic Theology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, USA. He holds an MA in Intercultural Studies and TESOL from Wheaton Graduate School, USA, and serves with an educational NGO teaching at universities in Southeast Asia. His writing investigates relationships between theology, language, culture and education, and he co-authored Exploring Parables in Luke.

Review :
Christians are called to view all of life, including their vocations, through the lens of Scripture. This is all the more critical for language teachers, who are instructing students in a medium that is at the heart of God's identity as a Trinitarian, speaking God. Language teaching in itself is a theological endeavor. The essays in this volume bring out critical issues for Christian English language teachers to consider - from biblical foundations for language teaching, to creative interactions with language theory, to reflections on biblical methodology and pedagogy, to a theological ground for dialogue. They are not merely a welcome contribution to the field of Christian English language teaching; they are, in my opinion, required reading for Christian English teachers who want to approach their calling with biblical integrity. If you are a Christian involved in language teaching, let me put it tersely: please read this book. Pierce Taylor Hibbs Associate Director for Theological Curriculum and Instruction, Westminster Theological Seminary, USA What does language teaching have to do with theology? This book will convince you that for the Christian language teacher, the answer might well be . . . everything! With theological insights pertaining to language, teaching, second language acquisition, and the unique field of English language teaching, the chapters in this text explore how biblical theology might undergird and inform our vocation. A broad range of theological positions, educational perspectives, and teaching and learning contexts provides plenty of food for thought, and concrete applications in nearly every chapter address practical ways to live out our theology in the classroom. This volume will challenge Christian readers to grapple with how our faith commitment both reflects and is reflected in our language teaching, and should be required reading for anyone who is a committed Christian and is called to language teaching. Jan Edwards Dormer Author of Teaching English in Missions Associate Professor of TESOL, Messiah College, USA The contributors to this volume provide Christian teachers with ideas that are both theological and practical, informed by their rich experience around the world. This book will help readers in the field of language teaching discern their calling, choose methods, design materials, write lesson plans, manage their classrooms, and more - from a well-considered Christian perspective. Kitty Purgason Author of Professional Guidelines for Christian English Teachers Professor of Applied Linguistics and TESOL, Cook School of Intercultural Studies, Biola University, USA