More than any other single invention, writing has changed the way people think (Ong 1982:78). As a result, literate learners often misunderstand the thought patterns and preferences of oral learners. Missionaries who are literate learners may overlook some of the most effective discipling practices in oral cultures. By viewing a funeral through the eyes of oral people, this article describes learning preferences for oral learners in order to reveal discipling practices that are more likely to transform oral learners to include songs, dances, rituals, dramas, stories, proverbs, and holistic development.
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