Thinking Theologically about Language Teaching

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.

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.