Multicultural Hours - Church

Over the break I was able to attend a Spanish speaking church service. I took Spanish for three years in high school, and was able to understand most basic conversations. I wanted to continue with Spanish throughout college in order to become fluent, but I wasn’t able to factor the classes into my schedule. I figured if I could continue with a second language, especially one that is spoken often in schools today, I would come out a well-rounded teacher, with a better degree. However, because I haven’t spoken Spanish, on a regular basis, since high school, the church service was very difficult to understand.
I attended a Christian church, and it was the typical service, including worship, pray, and the sermon. The service began with praise and worship which was the easier part for me to understand. Because they put words on a screen, it’s easier to follow along. I’m also able to understand Spanish when I read the language rather than listening to someone speaks Spanish, especially when it is spoken quickly. So I was able to read the words, and sing along. Also, because I know many praise and worship songs, I was able to recognize the tunes of the songs.
The sermon was a completely different story. I had a much harder time following along to the details of the pastor’s sermon. His overall idea was that we needed to work at spreading God’s Word in our community before we went to other places around the world. Other then that, I’m sure what he was saying. It was even harder for me to pay attention because I didn’t know what he was saying, and I would catch myself zoning out. When the pastor was praying, it was easier for me to focus because it doesn’t matter what language someone prays in, God still hears them. I was able to pray on my own, in English.
I was able to realize what my future student might experience in my classroom. When I have students that don’t speak English as their first language, they are going to have difficulties paying attention. I’m going to have to find ways to keep my students attention. Whether it is pairing them up with another student, having them take break, or continually asking them for confirmation on whether or not they understand. I also realized that my student might seem like they are paying attention, because they understood the beginning of the lesson, but they may actually be zoned out.
(This was 2 hours.)