Learning Spanish as church hospitality

Nearly 545 students participated in 48 classes held in 42 churches across the Northern Illinois Conference in the last two years to learn some Spanish and explore who is my neighbor.

Joyce Carrasco, Ruth Cassel Hoffman and Ngoc-Diep Nguyen developed the curriculum for Spanish-as-a-second-language (SSL) classes. Abingdon Press recently published it as a teacher and student manual, Who Is My Neighbor?: Learning Spanish as Church Hospitality (¿Quién es mi vecino?).

In 2013, Bishop Sally Dyck cast a vision to offer 100 SSL classes in the conference.

“Throughout the United States, there is a large and/or growing population of Spanish-speaking people,” Dyck said. “While most of these new immigrants are eager to learn English, it’s hospitable to at least attempt Spanish when we connect with them in our communities and in our churches.”

Who Is My Neighbor? Student Manual proposes that English speakers of any congregation can learn basic conversational Spanish to communicate and provide a welcoming atmosphere.

Hoffman said the goal is minimal conversation, not fluency. Users of Who Is My Neighbor? discover at least 100 Spanish words, many theologically centered. Readers learn by listening, seeking to comprehend and slowly beginning to speak basic Spanish.

Each lesson includes participatory activities and is set within a context of hospitality. The course ends with an opportunity for community engagement, including Holy Communion in Spanish.

“The premise,” Carrasco said, “is to visit a multilingual church, participate in a Spanish service or have a potluck and invite an Hispanic church to join you to have that multicultural experience.”

Anne Marie Gerhardt, director of communications, Northern Illinois Conference