Get Talking
You will get the most out of your experience in South America if you make an effort to learn a bit of Spanish or Portuguese (for Brazil) before you go. Ask the Youth and Volunteer Coordinator to send you a basic Spanish or Portuguese booklets which will get you started but don’t stop there. There are loads of books with tapes, night classes and videos to help you learn. Remember, Latin American Spanish/Portuguese can be different to the European versions, so make sure you get the right phrase book.
Why not try to learn some worship songs in Spanish? Did you know that Delirious has released an album of many of their worship songs in Spanish. It’s called ‘Libertad’ and is available from Christian bookshops. If you are part of a Latino Experience team, you could learn a few songs to share with the church in South America. You can also get help from the SAMS Language Adviser, Joanna Benson, at www.soundlanguage.co.uk