Table of Contents
Latin American Spanish for Christian Missionaries
A Complete Curriculum for Professional Interpretation
Program Overview
Official Interpreter Curriculum
LEVEL 1 — FOUNDATION (CEFR: A1)
Building Sound, Survival Language, and Listening Orientation
Unit 1 — Sound and the Interpreter’s Ear
- Lesson 1 - The Spanish Alphabet and Letter Names
- Lesson 2 — The Five Pure Vowels - Building the Foundation
- Lesson 3 — All 14 Diphthongs
- Lesson 4 — Consonants: The Familiar Ones
- Lesson 5 — Consonants: The Tricky Ones
- Lesson 6 — Syllables, Stress, and Accent Marks
- Lesson 7 — Shadowing: The Interpreter’s Core Training Technique
Unit 2 — Numbers, Time, and Practical Quantity Language
- Lesson 1 — Cardinal Numbers 1–1,000,000
- Lesson 2 — Ordinal Numbers
- Lesson 3 — Telling Time Aloud
- Lesson 4 — Days, Months, Dates, and the Liturgical Calendar
- Lesson 5 — Bible Reference Navigation
Unit 3 — Referring to Yourself and Others
- Lesson 1 — Subject Pronouns and the Tú-Usted Distinction
- Lesson 2 — SER: Identity and Permanent Characteristics
- Lesson 3 — ESTAR: Location and Temporary State
- Lesson 4 — SER vs. ESTAR: Drilling the Distinction
- Lesson 5 — Nouns, Articles, and Gender
- Lesson 6 — Adjective Agreement in Speech
- Lesson 7 — Self-Introduction as a Missionary Interpreter
Unit 4 — Greetings, Courtesy, and Survival Ministry Conversations
- Lesson 1 — Greetings and Farewells in Latin American Context
- Lesson 2 — Introductions in Ministry Contexts
- Lesson 3 — Courtesy Expressions and Their Cultural Weight
- Lesson 4 — Survival Interpreter Phrases
- Lesson 5 — Question Words and Basic Conversation Management
- Lesson 6 — Active Listening in Spanish
LEVEL 2 — ELEMENTARY (CEFR: A2)
Core Grammar Through Speaking and Listening
Unit 5 — Verb Group 1: -AR Verbs
Present Tense
- Lesson 1 — How -AR Verbs Work
- Lesson 2 — Present Tense Endings
- Lesson 3 — Core -AR Verbs for Ministry Interpretation
- Lesson 4 — Negatives and Questions in Speech
- Lesson 5 — Stem-Changing -AR Verbs
- Lesson 6 — Irregular -AR Verbs: dar and estar
Past Tenses
- Lesson 7 — Preterite of -AR Verbs
- Lesson 8 — Preterite Irregulars and Spelling Changes
- Lesson 9 — Imperfect of -AR Verbs
- Lesson 10 — Preterite vs. Imperfect: Oral Decision-Making
- Lesson 11 — Present Perfect with -AR Verbs
Future Tenses
- Lesson 12 — Near Future: IR + A + Infinitive
- Lesson 13 — Simple Future of -AR Verbs
- Lesson 14 — Full Tense Practice: -AR Verbs
- Unit 5 Interpretation Lab
- Unit 5 Missionary Application
Unit 6 — Verb Group 2: -ER Verbs
Present Tense
- Lesson 1 — -Er Present Tense Endings
- Lesson 2 — Core -ER Verbs for Ministry Interpretation
- Lesson 3 — Stem-Changing -ER Verbs
- Lesson 4 — Key Irregular -ER Verbs
- Lesson 5 — SABER vs. CONOCER
Past Tenses
- Lesson 6 — Preterite of -ER Verbs
- Lesson 7 — Preterite Irregulars
- Lesson 8 — Imperfect of -ER Verbs
- Lesson 9 — Preterite vs. Imperfect with -ER Verbs
- Lesson 10 — Present Perfect with -ER Verbs
Future Tenses
- Lesson 11 — Near Future with -ER Verbs
- Lesson 12 — Simple Future of -ER Verbs
- Lesson 13 — Full Tense Practice: -ER Verbs
- Unit 6 Interpretation Lab
- Unit 6 Missionary Application
Unit 7 — Verb Group 3: -IR Verbs
Present Tense
- Lesson 1 — -Ir Present Tense Endings
- Lesson 2 — Core -IR Verbs for Ministry Interpretation
- Lesson 3 — Stem-Changing -IR Verbs
- Lesson 4 — Key Irregular -IR Verbs
- Lesson 5 — Near Future Review
Past Tenses
- Lesson 6 — Preterite of -IR Verbs
- Lesson 7 — Stem Changes in the -IR Preterite
- Lesson 8 — Preterite Irregulars
- Lesson 9 — Imperfect of -IR Verbs
- Lesson 10 — Preterite vs. Imperfect with -IR Verbs
- Lesson 11 — Present Perfect with -IR Verbs
Future Tenses
- Lesson 12 — Near Future with -IR Verbs
- Lesson 13 — Simple Future of -IR Verbs
- Lesson 14 — Full Tense Practice: -IR Verbs
- Unit 7 Interpretation Lab
- Unit 7 Missionary Application
Unit 8 — The Three Verb Groups: Summary and Oral Reference
- Lesson 1 — Present Tense: All Three Verb Groups
- Lesson 2 — Preterite: All Three Verb Groups
- Lesson 3 — Imperfect: All Three Verb Groups
- Lesson 4 — Present Perfect: All Three Verb Groups
- Lesson 5 — Future Tenses: All Three Verb Groups
- Lesson 6 — Drill 1: Real-Time Tense Identification
- Lesson 7 — Drill 2: Verb Group Identification
- Lesson 8 — Drill 3: Back-Conjugation
- Lesson 9 — Integrated Oral Interpretation Practice
- Lesson 10 — Level 2 Capstone: Full Integration Assessment
LEVEL 3 — INTERMEDIATE (CEFR: B1)
Expanding Grammar, Listening Comprehension, and Beginning Interpretation Practice
Unit 9 — Expanding the Present
- Lesson 1 — The Present Progressive
- Lesson 2 — Reflexive Verbs
- Lesson 3 — Gustar and Reverse-Subject Verbs
- Lesson 4 — Hace + Time
- Lesson 5 — Modal Verbs in Spoken Ministry Language
Unit 10 — The Subjunctive Mood
- Lesson 1 — What the Subjunctive Is and Why It Matters for Interpreters
- Lesson 2 — Present Subjunctive Formation
- Lesson 3 — Subjunctive Triggers: WEIRDO
- Lesson 4 — Subjunctive with Conjunctions
- Lesson 5 — Subjunctive in Relative Clauses
- Lesson 6 — Past Subjunctive
- Lesson 7 — Subjunctive in Prayer and Sermon Language
- Unit 10 Interpretation Lab
- Unit 10 Missionary Application
Unit 11 — Commands: The Imperative
- Lesson 1 — Informal Commands (tú)
- Lesson 2 — Formal Commands (usted-ustedes)
- Lesson 3 — Nosotros Commands
- Lesson 4 — Commands with Pronouns
- Lesson 5 — Altar Call and Invitation Language
- Unit 11 Interpretation Lab
- Unit 11 Missionary Application
Unit 12 — Connecting Ideas in Speech
- Lesson 1 — Spoken Conjunctions
- Lesson 2 — Discourse Markers in Live Speech
- Lesson 3 — POR vs PARA in Spoken Ministry
- Lesson 4 — Relative Clauses in Connected Speech
- Lesson 5 — Filler Words and False Starts in Natural Speech
Unit 13 — Core Ministry Vocabulary for Listening Comprehension
- Lesson 1 — Salvation and the Gospel
- Lesson 2 — The Church and Ministry
- Lesson 3 — Prayer and Worship
- Lesson 4 — The Bible and Theology
- Lesson 5 — Latin American Cultural and Religious Terms
- Lesson 6 — Emotions and Pastoral Vocabulary
- Unit 13 Interpretation Lab
- Unit 13 Missionary Application
LEVEL 4 — UPPER INTERMEDIATE (CEFR: B2)
Fluency, Advanced Grammar, and Formal Interpretation Practice
Unit 14 — Advanced Verb Structures
- Lesson 1 — The Conditional Tense
- Lesson 2 — If-Then Conditionals
- Lesson 3 — The Full Perfect Tense System
- Lesson 4 — Passive Voice in Speech
- Lesson 5 — Sequence of Tenses with Subjunctive
Unit 15 — Advanced Grammar for Spoken Fluency
- Lesson 1 — Ser vs Estar Advanced Cases
- Lesson 2 — Object Pronouns in Natural Speech
- Lesson 3 — Contraction and Elision in Fast Speech
- Lesson 4 — Diminutives and Augmentatives in Ministry Speech
- Lesson 5 — Sentence Stress and Intonation for Interpreters
Unit 16 — Consecutive Interpretation: Formal Training
- Lesson 1 — Memory and Retention
- Lesson 2 — Note-Taking for Consecutive Interpretation
- Lesson 3 — Managing Segment Length
- Lesson 4 — Reformulation — Meaning Over Words
- Lesson 5 — Interpreting Numbers, Names, and References
- Lesson 6 — Full Consecutive Interpretation Sessions
Unit 17 — Regional Variation in Latin American Spanish
- Lesson 1 — Overview of Latin American Spanish Regions
- Lesson 2 — Pronunciation Differences — What Your Ear Must Learn
- Lesson 3 — Vocabulary Differences Across Regions
- Lesson 4 — Voseo — Recognition and Production
- Lesson 5 — Usted Variation Across Regions
- Lesson 6 — Church Culture Across Regions
LEVEL 5 — ADVANCED (CEFR: C1)
Near-Native Oral Fluency and Professional Interpretation Competency
Unit 18 — Advanced Oral Vocabulary and Register
- Lesson 1 — Idiomatic Expressions in Ministry Contexts
- Lesson 2 — Proverbs and Preaching Illustrations
- Lesson 3 — Pastoral and Counseling Language Register
- Lesson 4 — Theological Register for Oral Use
- Lesson 5 — Euphemisms and Sensitive Language
Unit 19 — Simultaneous Interpretation: Introduction
- Lesson 1 — The Mechanics of Simultaneous Interpretation
- Lesson 2 — The Ear-Voice Span
- Lesson 3 — Anticipation and Prediction
- Lesson 4 — Managing Simultaneous Interpretation Challenges
- Lesson 5 — Sermon Simultaneous Interpretation Practice
- Lesson 6 — Whispered Interpretation (Chuchotage)
Unit 20 — Interpreting Specialized Ministry Contexts
- Lesson 1 — Interpreting Prayer
- Lesson 2 — Interpreting Testimony
- Lesson 3 — Interpreting Sermons — Full Structure
- Lesson 4 — Interpreting Pastoral Counseling
- Lesson 5 — Interpreting Evangelistic Conversations
- Lesson 6 — Interpreting Business and Organizational Ministry
LEVEL 6 — MASTERY (CEFR: C1/C2 Oral)
Professional Certification and Career Preparation
Unit 21 — Oral Mastery
- Lesson 1 — Eliminating Accent Interference
- Lesson 2 — Prosody and Emotional Delivery
- Lesson 3 — Style Matching
- Lesson 4 — Speed and Processing Capacity
- Lesson 5 — Error Recovery
Unit 22 — Cultural Mastery for Professional Ministry Interpretation
- Lesson 1 — History of Christianity in Latin America
- Lesson 2 — Understanding Religious Syncretism
- Lesson 3 — High-Context and Low-Context Communication
- Lesson 4 — Non-Verbal Communication Across Cultures
- Lesson 5 — Power, Class, and Ministry Ethics
Unit 23 — Certification Preparation
- Lesson 1 — Overview of Relevant Certifications
- Lesson 2 — Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) Preparation
- Lesson 3 — Building a Professional Interpretation Portfolio
- Lesson 4 — Professional Ethics and Standards
- Lesson 5 — Self-Care and Sustainable Practice
Unit 24 — Capstone Projects
- Lesson 1 — Capstone Project 1 — Live Sermon Interpretation
- Lesson 2 — Capstone Project 2 — Pastoral Counseling Session Interpretation
- Lesson 3 — Capstone Project 3 — Regional Variety Challenge
- Lesson 4 — Capstone Project 4 — Cold Interpretation Assessment
- Lesson 5 — Capstone Project 5 — Oral Proficiency Self-Assessment