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Parlez-Vous Jesus Christ?
'Madagascar Kid' learns second language through passionate belief
By Laura B. Raphael
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There's no doubt about it: Adam Willard speaks French fluently. He lapses into French phrases and sentences in casual conversation... his outgoing answering machine message is as French as a baguette and a beret... and he helped create a twice-weekly lunchtime "French conversation table" in the ORU cafeteria. Indeed, he says that sometimes he even dreams and thinks in his second tongue.
But it wasn't always so. Last fall, when Willard arrived in France to begin his semester of study abroad, he was just a beginner (despite two years of French classes), barely able to understand the swirling conversations in French around him, much less confidently speak the language himself.
While Willard admits that just being in France had a lot to do with his dramatic leap from le novice to l'expert, more important to the transformation was his need to share his faith with those he met.
"When you are passionate about something, that's when the language becomes relevant, that's when it's not just an exercise for class but a way to express who you are," Willard said. "During my time in France, I had lots of opportunities to share my faith. Because I got to talk about what I was most passionate about--God and His vision for our lives--I became much better at using the language."
The first time he spoke about God in French was, appropriately enough, with Malagasy friends he'd made. "They weren't Christians, but they were very friendly, and we talked about all kinds of things," Willard recalled. "When I told them I wanted to be a missionary, they were surprised. At this point, my French wasn't very good, but I tried as hard as I could to explain the truth of God to them. What a wonderful experience!"
Later, when he'd become much more comfortable class="text" with the language, he remembers going for a hike with friends and realizing he'd spent the entire time conversing in French without trying very hard.
Willard made the most of his time in France--studying, making friends in a local church group, traveling, even joining a street protest against privatizing colleges. (When in France, do as the French do...) He was stationed in Grenoble, in the southeast of France, "at the foot of the Swiss Alps. It was breathtaking!" When he was through with class and homework, he says, he would often just start walking in a random direction, not knowing exactly where he'd end up, but always thrilled at the beauty of the countryside and in search of one special sight in particular. "I just wanted to find castles!" he laughed. "I was always trying to see more castles."
One of the best parts of his experience in France, Willard says, was getting to know the people in the French church he joined. "I definitely learned a lot about the length and breadth of the body of Christ," he said. "In this country, we may have many denominations, but among each of them, we still tend to suffer from the same weaknesses and strengths. Christians of other cultures have different strengths and weaknesses, and it's fascinating to see how people adapt their faith to their cultures."
He continued, "It's good to know that there are people different from you who are part of the body of Christ, and to see how God establishes the fullness of His kingdom on earth through so many different people."
Now back home, Willard will be finishing his last year at ORU next year and is still pondering his immediate plans after graduation. At the top of his list is to pay off his school debts and save money, possibly by working as a French teacher for a few years. He then is thinking of joining the Peace Corps and finally, becoming a long-term missionary in Madagascar. Although he's enjoyed the shorter missionary trips he's made, including one to Rome last summer, he wants his time in Madagascar to be much longer. "It's hard to change a nation within a few weeks to a few months."
That may be true, but Willard knows a secret that will help him in future trips--large or small--to different countries:
Speak the truth of the Lord, and the words will follow.
Click here to read our earlier story on Adam.
