The Gift of the Stranger: Faith, Hospitality, and Foreign Language Learning

A pioneering look at the implications of Christian faith for foreign language education.It has become clear in recent years that reflection on foreign language education involves more than questioning which methods work best. This new volume carries current discussions of the value-laden nature of foreign language teaching into new territory by exploring its spiritual and moral dimensions. David Smith and Barbara Carvill show how the Christian faith sheds light on the history, aims, content, and methods of foreign language education. They also propose a new approach to the field based on the Christian understanding of hospitality.

Barbara Carvill is professor of German language and literature at Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan.