Language 180: Recent Episodes
Preston Fidler
Integrating the twin Great Commission tasks of language learning and gospel communication, Language 180 gets to the heart of gospel fluency across cultures.
Language 180 is a reorientation, a complete pivot in perspective: We're reminded that language learning is something we don’t have to do before we share the gospel, rather something we get to do while we share the gospel.
Language 180 is a reminder to persevere when we're tempted to plateau. Language 180 also refers to the minutes we spend every day in ongoing learning toward a sustained lifestyle of evangelism and discipleship in the language. In other words, through Language 180 we practice learning the language to communicate the gospel 3 hours per day, 60 minutes in each of three activities - personal preparation (1st hour), deliberate practice (2nd hour), and fluent proclamation (3rd hour) - for a total of 180 minutes each day. Want to learn more? Start with the first episode, "What is Language 180?"
In the Language 180 podcast, we explore core concepts that sync with articles and resources found on the language180.com website where we learn to: 1) Understand the basics of gospel fluency across cultures 2) Align our perspective with God’s perspective on gospel fluency 3) Evangelize our lost neighbors as we learn their language 4) Comprehend and tell simple familiar gospel stories in our new language 5) Engage our neighbors through the limitless radius of the gospel in all life encounters 6) Learn to listen and respond as an integral part of the fluency needed to reach neighbors with the gospel 7) Know what it means to intelligently learn a language 8) Invest in life-long language learning 9) Practice Language 180 for fruitful ongoing learning and in-language ministry 10) Converse the gospel in our new language 11) Share our testimony; pray for our neighbors, and 12) Identify as Kingdom pilgrims, with an unwavering assurance in our destination and an insatiable desire to invite others to join us from the “nations of every language” (Zechariah 8:23).
Jenn shares how we can get into great gospel conversations using a little wordless story she sketched
James and I discuss several themes from 1000 Cups of Tea Field Guide with a language coach from Europe, including the motivational ideas of: vision, perspective, call, and overcoming discouragement.
James and I discuss several themes from 1000 Cups of Tea Field Guide with a language coach from East Asia, including: life-long learning, taking responsibility, telling simple familiar gospel stories, and vision.
James and I discuss several themes from 1000 Cups of Tea with a veteran language coach, including: glittering our language (and our lives) with the gospel (from my first book) and telling simple familiar gospel stories. We also talk about practicing Lonna Dickerson's principle of WYDIWYG (What you do is what you get!).
James and I discuss several themes from 1000 Cups of Tea Field Guide with a language coach from Southeast Asia, including: our call, Biblical fluency, taking responsibility, and a lifelong learners posture.
James and I discuss several themes from the 1000 Cups of Tea Field Guide with a language coach from Central Asia, including: motivation, vision, perspective, language intelligence, being a lifelong learner, and taking responsibility.
April talks about "why" we learn language, the joy of learning, and the ultimate joy of sharing the gospel and discipling new believers as we learn.
One couple describes what it's like to learn and use two languages for life and ministry.
Jenn talks about loving God and living in the overflow of abiding in Christ as he leads her into cross-cultural ministry opportunities with those around her.
Marcos and Mary talk about their ministry to orphans and students in a Central Asian city.
What makes a successful language learner? Is it brains? Social or cultural awareness? Memorability? Discipline? It's all of that, in part. But it's way more than that. In the end, aptitude is overtaken by something far more significant: our attitude. I call it, “We get to do this!”
What is Language 180 anyway? This episode introduces and explores the meaning behind the term.