Pfffth!
Confession time: When I began reading Learn How to Study, it was with a dramatic roll of the eyes and a haughty “been there, done that” attitude. Honestly, I’d wager that people who go on to do post-graduate studies have pretty much figured out how to study. And worse, much of what I read seemed dedicated to memorization and test-taking skills rather than research and development. I may be wrong, but I think our test-taking days are over.
And then I felt a pang of conviction.
And He called a child to Himself and set him before them, and said, “Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:2-3
Converted to become like children. Not experts. Not academics. Children. Humble, open, receptive, teachable, curious–these are the childlike qualities that enable us to learn and grow. And as we strive to mature in our faith, we are wise to maintain these childlike qualities through all seasons of life and learning. I don’t ever want to become a know-it-all. So despite my exasperation with the style of Rowntree and the pedestrian nature of his content, I tried to find a way to approach this reading that would render me open and receptive.
My doctoral project has to do with cultural adaptation for missionaries, and so I decided to read Derek Rowntree’s Learn How to Study in hopes of discovering approaches to learning that might be as useful to the missionary on the field as the university student in the classroom. In the section entitled, “Why Read This Book?” the author suggests that the skills he proposes “are actually more life-skills than exclusively study-skills.”[1] Might these life-skills work for one whose aim is to learn language and culture? And there you have it, the question that brought my curiosity to life.
Rowntree begins the book by dispelling the “Myths of the Super-Student,” and boiling down student success to three key tasks: being clear about expectations, developing approaches to learning that will enable one to meet those expectations, and being able to demonstrate that learning in formal and informal settings. It seems that all three of these tasks would pertain to the cultural adaptation process for missionaries. But are they practiced? There is certainly an expectation that missionaries will learn to adapt to the culture in which they are living, but what exactly that looks like is rather unclear. The expectations are fuzzy, and this makes the second task difficult! How can one develop an approach for cultural adaptation if no one has never defined what that looks like in the end? But most lacking of all is the third task.
Christians (in my experience) shy away from measurement, unless it’s counting people in the pews or dollars in the bank. We’re lousy at evaluating our progress or programs. We think that results are “in God’s hands” (which may be true) so there is no need to assess our efforts (which is certainly not true). A few years ago I surveyed missionary sending agencies, asking them about the importance of cultural adaptation for missionary effectiveness. All eight of the agencies surveyed told me that cultural adaptation was very important, but none of them…not one…had a process in place for evaluating how well their missionaries adapted. Thus, these first three tasks gave me fodder for thought.
And then Rowntree went on to talk about “Grit and Self-Control.”[2] These two qualities of good learners are incredibly applicable to missionaries. The problem is, Rowntree convinces the reader that these two qualities are essential, even reassures the reader that that one can establish these qualities with practice, but then offers no help in how to go about developing them. Grit is mentioned throughout the book, and the concept of self-control is intrinsic in much of what Rowntree prescribes, reinforcing their importance without helping the reader to attain them. Fortunately for missionaries, we’ve got another book to help us with this subject! Even better, we’ve got the Holy Spirit to inspire and empower our growth.
There were some helpful tips in the section on planning, which was basically about time-management.[3] Both missionaries and students have to be able to manage their time wisely, as neither is going to be punching a time clock. The nine steps could all be applied to missionaries in the adaptation process, if, indeed, the missionary had been able to clarify expectations in the first place.
Sadly, it seemed the help for missionary adaptation ended there. Though Rowntree suggested that his book contained “life-skills,” I found the “study-skills” to be fairly simplistic, ordinary, and uninspired. I was optimistic when he began to write about “the awareness of cues,” but found him to focus the conversation so narrowly on test-taking that anything he suggested would’ve been irrelevant to missionary adaptation.
I thought perhaps I had missed something, so I went to try to find some reviews. Maybe another reader would be able to help me see some of the value of the book that I had been missing. But there were no reviews on Google Books and one (one!) on Amazon.com. I tried to stay open. I tried to approach the book humbly, like a child. But in the end, I’m afraid my honest, childlike response to Rowntree is downright childish. I’d give it a big ol’ raspberry.
[1] Derek Rowntree, LEARN HOW TO STUDY: Developing the Study Skills and Approaches to Learning That Will Help You Succeed in University (Derek Rowntree, 2016). Kindle loc 115.
[2] Rowntree. Loc 336.
[3] Rowntree. Loc 1762.
About the Author
Jennifer Williamson
Jenn Williamson is a wife and mother of two adult sons. Before moving to France in 2010, she was the women's pastor at Life Center Foursquare Church in Spokane, WA. As a missionary with Greater Europe Mission, she is involved in church planting and mentoring emerging leaders. Jenn benefitted from French mentors during her transition to the field, and recognizes that cross-cultural ministry success depends on being well integrated into the host culture. Academic research into missionary sustainability and cultural adaptation confirmed her own experience and gave her the vision to create Elan, an organization aimed at helping missionaries transition to the field in France through the participation of French partners.14 responses to “Pfffth!”
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Jennifer, good post! I think many, if not all of us, shared the same frustration with the almost elementary aspect of this book; hopefully we have not become those people he was partially describing on the the comparison scale. I kept thinking of myself and the depth of education I have attained, and yet compared myself to Garfield’s level of devotion to research and could not help but find myself lacking. However, I am not sure that anyone should compare themselves to Garfield’s level of research, and perhaps was part of the point Rountree was trying to make.
As you brought to light the challenge of relating Rountree to missionary work, I did find myself pondering the different aspects of the reading to the reality of what one might hope to accomplish as a missionary. I went on a “mission trip”, which lasted only about 10 days, to Mexico once. Upon returning to the states and sharing with a brother-in-Christ the story of our adventures, he quickly put me in my place by telling me that a week long adventure to Mexico did not constitute missionary work. To be honest, I was more than a little insulted, because I truly believed that we had worked hard during that time to not just help people with their spiritual growth, but also to tend to their physical needs; two concepts that Rountree hit upon. Rountree also seemed to focus more on the goal of the ministry versus the methodology as you mentioned. The point being, I know the concept is probably simple, especially for the seasoned missionary as yourself, but I think his point was that it is not just about the education you achieve, but the reason you are pursuing it in the first place. Your focus on ministry in France may have a whole different purpose based on need than my ministry in Oregon. The desire we have as minister should fuel our focus on study and our motives for learning. Even today, though I have been at this congregation for over 7 years, I still make reviews of my ministry to see where I need to take the congregation over the next year. This review fuels the books I read, the courses I teach, and the ministries I work to enforce; and I believe that can be valuable to any minister, especially those in the mission field.
Great job on your post. I truly look forward to hearing more about the ministry in France.
Yes, Shwan, I totally agree. The reason we are doing ministry matters greatly. Especially on those days when I just want to close up shop and go home. Motives matter. And I think that was oneof the strengths of this book was helping students to connect with their motives.
Jen, I learned more from your comments about cultural adaptation and from Jesus’ succinct words commanding us to be childlike than I did from Rowntree’s book. Great thoughts and great application in your part. As for Rowntree’s book, I don’t think it’s anti child-like to be aware of what has already been poured into you. Paul says when I became a man, I put childish things behind me. It’s not anti-child like to not be interested in childish things. I feel we are all ready to start studying.
I agree that we can be child-like without being child-ish. Indeed, as you point out, that is the goal. To keep our sense of wonder and curiosity while losing our ignorance and immaturity.
Hi Jenn,
What a strong string of statements you wrote when you mentioned about child-likeness, “Not experts. Not academics. Children. Humble, open, receptive, teachable, curious–these are the childlike qualities that enable us to learn and grow.”
Wow. Well stated and well done. I especially like TEACHABLE. Thank your for using this Scripture and for the great reminders…
Hi Jenn,
You did a great job applying this text to your research interest. I especially appreciated your scriptural reference to learning like children. That being said, this book gave us an opportunity to have a week of reading “reprieve” – the perfect opportunity to apply Bayard and Adler and Van Doren’s techniques to skimming and finding something of significance to grasp on to. I’m amazed by the reactions of the majority of our cohort to having to “read” this book – when in reality we’ve been given permission to not read it!
Could this have been an intentional ploy to see if students could rise to the occasion? Just a conspiracy theory…
I love your conspiracy theory. I know that I put the art of skimming to work with this book! It was great practice.
Jenn, you articulate it well. Cultural adaptation for missionaries is all about becoming as children. Imagine, after years of investment in training and education one moves family and home to another culture, like you have to la belle France. You are rootless (you’re the first generation in Lyon), voiceless (qu’est-ce que c’est?), disoriented (how do I pay my hydro bill?), disempowered (can you help me?), and friendless (who can I go to the movie with tonight?). It is a huge sacrifice and challenge to regress back to a childlike status of dependence on others.
Rowntree’s value on critique and evaluation may come in handy for you in your cultural adaptation. I agree that as a North American, one must refrain from quick critique for that would smack of cultural imperialism. But how can one critique with a childlike approach that is not judgmental but freshly relevant? It brings new meaning to me for the French word “ingénue”. Isn’t that the same word used for Nathaniel “without guile”?
YES! I almost did the same sort of post trying to apply SQ3R to “reading” a new culture.
Jenn.
Finding the cultural relationship to a book is right up my alley. You wrote, “How can one develop an approach for cultural adaptation if no one has never defined what that looks like in the end?” That is where I find myself so often. It is so easy to continue to go through life, teach a class, develop curriculum without the goal in mind. I have done this unfortunately a little too often. I do feel as though sometimes the goal line is in an ever changing flux with globalization and cultural transitions happening as quickly as they do.
I agree that measurement in ministry is looked down upon. We justify our position by claiming that true ministry can not be broken down in numbers and evaluated. What I believe we really mean in that we don’t want anyone to hold us accountable and possible say we are not doing the job God has called us to. As leaders we do all walk a fine line of pushing independent creativity and leadership oversight.
Thanks for helping me think through some of these implications as well.
I’ve been so convicted by the missionary resistance to evaluation lately. I do hink it is complex and even complicated to measure ministry afforts, but not impossible. And I do think it is important. Let me know if you have any tips about this!
Jenn,
Your post convicted me in how I approached this book. If my goal as a Christian, husband, father and pastor is to be Christlike and childlike in our approach to all things then I failed in my approach to this book. Thank you for hitting me between the eyes with your post.
Jenn, your honesty and insight is so helpful. I love that you applied the text to missionary adaptation. I think that helps to be a better critical thinker of the text as well. My feelings of the book being simplistic and ordinary were there too which is in part why I stuck with the SQ3R as I feel like that will be most helpful for future reading.
You mention Rowntree does not explain how to have grit or self-control. Besides sticking with his book through the end, how do you see yourself growing in grit and self-control in this program and more specifically with your project?
Nice work Jenn. This is a very thoughtful post. It’s late and I’m super tired so I don’t have much to say, other than that I appreciate your sharing your personal journey in the beginning, the reminder to be as a child, and how you appropriated the text to your dissertation research on missionary adaptation. See you in 12 hours!