Model for a First-Year On-Field Internship
by Steve HokeThe following outline of an actual training model describes the procedure, assumptions, and activities that could guide your first year on the field. It is meant to give you a clear idea of the expectations, opportunities, and resources available. This model may be adapted by your church or agency.
Assumptions
1. You have completed both a pre-field orientation workshop and language
acquisition workshop before going overseas. This training has given you an overview
of the requisite attitudes, sensitivities, and skills for culture learning.
2. You have gained some advance exposure to your new language through Berlitz, LAMP, or an equivalent intensive language learning program.
3. Beyond the general pre-field orientation to cross-cultural living and communicating, the best place to learn culture-specific information and language is in the host culture. “Bonding” with the local people and their culture is critical to your long-term success in feeling at home in your new culture. (See Tom and Betty Sue Brewster’s book LAMP for practical steps to bonding with your host culture.)
4. Language learning is ministry; hence, a deep commitment to gaining language proficiency as soon as possible (up to two years of full-time study), while continuing to bond and build relationships with host nationals, is necessary.
5. New missionaries should be exposed to as little non-preparatory ministry experience as is reasonable (i.e., without taking time away from the priority of language study).
6. A guided internship during your first year of language and culture learning is more effective and desirable than a completely spontaneous and unguided experience. You should have a mentor/coach to facilitate your entry, language learning, and general acculturation.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of your first (or second, depending on the language) year
in your expected location, you should be able to:
1. Carry on a simple conversation about spiritual matters (at an entry level) with a national, with 80% accuracy and comprehension.
2. Explain the history of the city and culture in which you live, highlighting key persons and events which have significantly influenced them.
3. Evidence a respect, sensitivity, and appreciation for the local culture, including its history, cultural values, food, and lifestyle.
Procedure
The following activities describe the type of learning activities that can
be customized into a one-year internship experience:
• Consistently attend language classes and/or meet regularly with your language tutor.
• “Bond” with a local family by living with a host family for three weeks during your first six months on the field.
• Find and develop a relationship with a reliable cultural “informant” and model (if different from your tutor or host family).
• Develop a close relationship with a national family or couple, and vacation with them.
• Attend a national church with services in the national language.
• Participate in a national-led small group or cell group.
• Attend a church camp or retreat.
• Attend the national church’s version of leadership training.
• Attend and observe at least three national cultural or religious festivals and celebrations.
• Visit three to six other national churches, across denominational lines.
• Conduct a personal prayer walk in your host city, and join others in other cities if possible.
• Complete the reading and study of the Country Briefing Notebook and Reading Program for “your” country.
• Visit at least two other cities and areas of interest in the country, with an eye toward observing regional distinctives, differences, and similarities, and toward learning about national history and culture.
• Keep a personal journal for the first 12 months, making entries at least weekly. Use your journal to guide intentional, critical reflection on your spiritual formation and culture learning.
Unless otherwise noted, all materials on the urbana.org web site are Copyright InterVarsity Christian Fellowship / USA. All rights reserved.
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