Learn to sing in 6 different languages with this fun I Want to Be a Missionary Now Foreign Language activity! This word representations activity is an awesome way to practice being missionaries by learning to speak a new language!
Give your primary children a “mission call” and learn to sing a few lines of I Want to Be a Missionary Now (archives) in a different language!
I Want to Be a Missionary Now Foreign Language
Did you know you can find a full list of current missions of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints? I really enjoyed browsing this site and seeing all the places where the gospel is being shared!
For a fun way to review this activity, sing a few phrases of the song in a different languages! Receive a “mission call” as a primary and learn how to say the phrase, “I want to be a missionary now” in 6 different languages!
At the beginning of singing time, ask if anyone has a family member currently serving a mission. Invite them to share where they are serving and in what language they are teaching the gospel.
Then, sing through the first verse of I Want to Be a Missionary Now (flip chart) as a brief review.
Today, we are all going to be missionaries! Missionaries are called by God to serve all over the world. Missionaries receive a mission call, and many are asked to learn a new language.
We’re going to try singing some of this missionary song in different languages! Are you ready for your mission call?
Read one of the “mission calls” aloud to the children or ask a volunteer to read it. This will tell you what language you’ll be singing in! Post the language poster for the assigned language and try to help the children pronounce each phrase. It may be helpful to listen to the translation briefly on your phone.
Try singing through the song, singing the first and third line of the song in your assigned language.
Then, read another mission call and try another language! Don’t be discouraged if you have a difficult time pronouncing the lyrics. Heavenly Father helps His missionaries know what to say and how to say it.
Close by sharing your testimony of missionary work and remind the children that we can all be missionaries, even if we don’t have an official mission call yet.
Sing in 6 Different Languages!
I am so grateful for the church’s translation system! I was able to find translations for this song in each of these languages on the Church’s website. It may be helpful to give each translation a quick listen in preparation for this activity!
If you look at the music for each translation, you might notice that the phrase, “I want to share the gospel while I’m young,” is sometimes in the 4th line of the song. You’ll want to use the translations below to most closely match the English phrase.
I’ve included just a few examples of the phrases, “I want to be a missionary now” and “I want to share the gospel while I’m young” in different languages. Be sure to grab the printable for all 6 language posters!
Spanish:
- Line 1: Yo quiero ser un missionero ya
- Line 3: El evangelio quiero predicar
- Click here to listen to the Spanish translation of this song.
French:
- Line 1: Je voudrais déjà partir en mission
- Line 3: Je vou drais bien le partager maintenant
- Click here to listen to the French translation of this song.
Extension Activities:
- Group the children into missionary “zones” and have them read their mission calls together. Have the children work together to try to learn the song in their assigned language. Have a teacher sit with each group to help with the translations.
- If it’s too challenging to learn both lines 1 and 3, just start with the first line of the song, then sing the rest of the song in your own language.
- Invite someone from your ward to come and teach the entire song in a different language!
- Invite the missionaries to come sing with you! Ask them to share their testimonies of missionary work.
For another fun similar activity, head over to see this I Know that My Redeemer Lives Foreign Languages singing time activity!
I Want to Be a Missionary Now Foreign Language Printable Song Helps
This free in-post printable includes 4 language posters, each containing two phrases from the song!
Join INSTANT Primary Singing for extended printables including 2 additional languages, mission calls and a 1-page language cheat sheet. You’ll find these bonus files included when I Want to Be a Missionary Now is the featured song of the month.
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Head over to this I Want to Be a Missionary Now Missionary Meals activity for a neat way to explore different missions around the world as you review this song!
What other fun ways will you use this foreign language singing time activity in your Primary room?
