Scripture Engagement – I studied significant factors that influence the success of a translation program and analyzed an existing translation program by these criteria.
Semantics and Pragmatics – I examined differences in word meaning and word usage across languages.
Discourse Features of Biblical Hebrew – I was taught how to analyze Hebrew text. I spent two months getting to know the first fourteen chapters of Exodus really well.
Theory and Practice of Translation – I studied translation theory. I practiced putting the knowledge to use translating a short Scripture passage into French with the help of a native speaker.
Cross-cultural Teaching Seminar – I learned theories and strategies that will help us train our mother-tongue translators well. (ed. note – Bible translators always need speakers of the original language to work with them to get a translation that reads clearly and naturally in that language.)
Area Studies – I researched the history, culture, traditional religious beliefs and social trends in the people group we will be living with.
Principles of Cross-Cultural Service – I learned about the Biblical foundation for missions, missions history and philosophy, and missions best practices.
Missionary Formation – I learned practical, useful things for life on the mission field, such as team dynamics, cultural theories, cultural adaptation, conflict resolution principles, and re-entry preparation.
Ministry Planning Course – I learned practical information for life on the field such as technology tips, result-based management theory, safety and security, and preaching the gospel cross-culturally. I presented a ten-year plan for our ministry.
In addition, Amanda will need to learn the language of wider communication (for trade among area people-groups) as well as the language of her specific people group. |
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