French Immersion? Why not Koine Greek Immerson?

I recently sat down with Dr. David Miller, associate professor of New Testament and Early Judaism, in his Briercrest office. He and another New Testament professor teach Koine Greek a bit differently than most seminary instructors. They use an immersive environment. Much like my grade 7 and 8 French Immersion experience, students are encouraged to read and speak Koine and Classical Greek in the classroom as a way to learn the language. Starting with the very first class, the professors speak Greek to their students. No more grappling with grammar as a springboard to the New Testament in its original language. Instead, students at Briercrest can enrol in Greek classes and spend the whole semester, Monday to Friday, all day every day, hearing and learning to speak Greek as a way to study the written text. At the end of their Big Fat Greek Semester they walk away with the equivalent of 5 course credits.

If you're interested in knowing more, I'd be happy to help you get connected with one of our exceptional New Testament scholars.

Thoughts from an Ontario native living in Saskatchewan

In July my wife and I officially became residents of Saskatchewan. It was not our easiest move; it was our most adventurous. Packing up a 26-foot U-Haul with our car loaded on a tow-behind trailer, we drove 2,700km from Ontario to our new home. My wife and I both landed great employment opportunities in the land of the living skies with an Aug. 1 start date.

I thought it would be interesting to note a few of the things that differentiate my new province from my former. Saskatchewan, at least the part I'm living in, seems to be sunnier than Ontario. It also seems windier. In Ontario I would think nothing of heading out on my bike. Now, I have to check the weather to see which direction the wind is travelling and how strong it is blowing.

There are fewer people, more trains, and more heavy equipment on the highway than where I used to live. I hear train sounds everyday and I get to watch them rumble down the tracks near the TransCanada Highway on my way to work. In terms of huge vehicles, sometimes they are in the fields and other times they are on the road. The other day I watched great plumes of dust swirl high in the sky as five or six combines danced together in a field nearby. On one of my first days on my bicycle I was passed by a semi-truck loaded with only four tires, each one overhanging the trailer bed, stretching beyond the white traffic lines the truck straddled as it rolled along.

And then there is the people. While Ontarians are good humans, folks in Saskatchewan have so kind, caring, and helpful. It was hard leaving those we love to come to a new land with new people. Yet, those we have met have been wonderful. We chose to live this adventure and we are grateful for God's sustaining grace and abundant provision of new friends and colleagues.