LANGUAGE & CULTURE
The Latin American Missionary Training Institue (L.A.M.T.I.) was founded by the Fundamental Baptist World-Wide Mission to meet the need of Independent, Fundamental Baptist, Spanish-speaking missionaries in three ways:
  1. Prepare them to speak and understand the Spanish language.
  2. Help them to adjust to, understand, and appreciate the Latin culture
  3. Get hands on training in language, culture, and missionary work.

To this end, L.A.M.T.I. is more than just a language school. Here missionaries can learn the language by living it!

The course used by the Institute was developed by the Military Institute of Linguistics. It is used by the government to train diplomats and ambassadors for service in foreign countries. We use the course with written permission. Some of the language has been changed or adapted to be more suitable for missionary work.

The course is titled "Situational Spanish." It consists of the different, yet common situations which missionaries will encounter on a daily basis. For example, the first lesson is "In the market place." It has to do with market purchases of fruits, vegetables, and other items. Other lessons deal with such situations as: "The Post Office," "The Beauty Shop," "Door to Door Witnessing," along with many other situations. The course includes 69 lessons which cover all areas of life in Latin America.

Students spend six hours each day in language and culture classes. All language classes are taught by national teachers. Culture and grammar classes are taught by veteran missionaries.

Students are also assigned projects to attend, study and report on 15 events that are common, yet important in Latin America.  These are events like:  a catholic wedding, funeral, and catholic mass.  Other important events include cultural and historical site visits.
 
The first hours of each day is spent in language dialogue class.  These classes are taught by national teachers.  There are a maximum of 8 students to a class.  This affords time for personal attention to be given
to each student.
 On the second day of each lesson,  the students take different parts and act out each dialogue.  Then, they change parts and act out opposite the roles.  This is all monitored by a national teacher to insure correct grammar and pronunciation.
   
Weekly classes are taught on Latin culture.  Latin thinking is explained and APPLICATION are made in different situations.  Culture is taught by both classroom teaching and personal experience with the nations. On the third day of each lesson, students are assigned a project to be completed outside of the class.  For example, for the lesson " The Market Place" students go to the market and purchase two onions, one banana, and three tomatoes.  The students learn the language by using the language.
   
Each student spends 45 minutes each day in the language lab.  They listen to different national voices speak phrases and pronounce verbs.  After each phrase, time is allowed for each student to repeat the phrase.  A national teacher monitors the students pronunciation. Several Independent Baptist churches are already established in the state of Aguascalientes.  As the students learn enough Spanish, they work with            National workers and veteran missionaries.  In services they recite verses, give one minute testimonies, lead in short prayer and later have opportunity to teach, preach and go door to door with  national workers.