Overflow and the Not-so-inspiring Spanish Teacher

In my first few years of teaching, I taught Spanish. I was not a good Spanish teacher, and my students knew it. It was the kind of teaching where the teacher said things and students did activities, but learning was minimal.

I could not speak Spanish. I had never been to Spain or any Spanish-speaking countries. I did not know or understand the Spanish culture, and I could not name even one football player from Spain. However, I had a book and a cassette provided by my school, so the day before I taught a lesson, I positioned the tape to the correct “count” on the tape deck, listened to the lesson I would lead the next day, and reviewed the teaching guide. I was not an inspiring teacher of Spanish.

All things “Spanish” occurred during the half-hour compulsory “second language learning” time required for my students. The class was visually represented on a small corner classroom display with a few Spanish words and their English equivalents. I do not believe any of my students fell in love with the Spanish language or culture because of my feeble, uncharismatic attempt to “do” the compulsory Spanish lessons.

It is easy to imagine a better Spanish teacher.

Imagine a teacher who LOVES the Spanish culture and language. Someone personally experienced with fiestas and siestas. Someone who oozes all that is Spanish. It is their overflow. It is a discharge from the heart, not just a transaction from the brain.

In this teacher’s class, not only will they lead a passion-driven, half-hour compulsory lesson where the language is brought to life, but the whole class will be illuminated through a Spanish lens. English words with Spanish origins will be presented with pride—with explanations that come from Spanish-speaking countries and have not only an English meaning but mean so much more in Spanish. Seasons of fiesta will animate the class, and food will be an essential part of the Spanish-saturated environment.

There is a significant difference between teaching something and bringing a subject to life in the classroom.

In Christian education, there are both inspiring and uninspiring Spanish teachers, but the fact remains that they are teaching something that has eternal significance. All teachers, in fact, all “big people” in Christian schools, model through action and word what it means to live sold out for Christ, what it means to be a Christian, what it means to value every part of God’s creation, and how the Bible, prayer, forgiveness, and more are central to that journey.

A teacher in a Christian school does not need to hold a divinity degree, but they need to love and overflow all that it is to be Christian. As the inspiring Spanish teacher saturates their classroom with all things Spanish, we Christian school educators must saturate our classrooms with who God is, and His Word should always be on our tongues. All that we teach should be marinated in who He is and who He has created us to be.

So how does a teacher overflow? It begins with filling. Filling our lives with all God is. And there is no substitute for a Christian teacher spending time in prayer and His Word.

Here are some starter sentences that could help release the overflow of who God is and what we are learning in His Word to our students:

• “Before we start today, I have to share this verse I read this morning with you all. …”
• “Last night, when I was praying for this class, I had a real sense that. …”
• “I have been thinking about [insert Biblical character name] recently, and their story reminds me to. …”
• “Isn’t it interesting that this is also what the Bible has been telling us for years?”
• “In our school, one of the Scriptures you memorise is John 3:30: ‘He must increase, and I must decrease,’ and I have been thinking about that lately. …”

In Christian education, our calling is not fulfilled by just telling our students about the goodness of God, but in modelling a life sold out to all He is and all He has called us to be. Overflow is the natural consequence of how we fill ourselves.

Overflow is authentic, intentional, and spontaneous. Overflow reassures and models to students that prayer and Scripture are relevant and important. Overflow results in students wanting to mimic the teacher’s behavior and to follow the One whom the teacher follows.

There is a difference between a teacher who teaches in a Christian school and a Christian educator. Overflow is a big part of that difference.

If overflow is important in Christian education and if overflow is a consequence of continuous filling, how are you filling your life with the goodness of God?

Blessings, wisdom, and patience for you in your pursuit of authentic and intentional Christian Education.