Greek

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Ever thought of vacationing as something that has to be learned, like a skill? Most people have to learn how to ride a bike, drive a car, or speak a foreign language, but for Dr. Burton Rozema, there seems to be an art form to taking vacations. It's not that he doesn't want to get away every so often, but.

"I'm not very good at it. We never went on vacations when I was a kid, and whenever we went somewhere it was always to see relatives. That's still the case today: if we travel anywhere, we usually go to visit relatives."

Dr. Rozema is a 20-year faculty member who teaches all the Greek courses and serves as the dean of academic services. Prior to coming to Trinity, he taught at Indiana State University for 13 years. After graduating from Calvin College with a bachelor of arts in Latin, Dr. Rozema went to the University of Wisconsin to earn his master's and doctoral degrees in classics. His knowledge of Greek gives him a distinct advantage when approaching the New Testament records.

"There's nothing like the original language to help demystify some of the sermons I hear and discern if they've got it right. Greek is a simple language, and some things are written that are much simpler than preachers try to make them."

Teaching a foreign language usually is a tough endeavor, but teaching an ancient foreign language may be doubly tough. The best way to learn a language is through verbal expression, and Dr. Rozema seeks expression from his students.

"I encourage my students to participate as much as possible. I don't like to lecture for extended periods of time, so the more they talk, the better the class goes. It makes learning more enjoyable for them.

"I'm fascinated by how students think. I like to pick their brain to see what they think about language and its grammatical structures. They have to know how to deal with the structure of the language in order to grab hold of the language firmly. So I keep them reading and re-reading, writing and re-writing. It helps them develop familiarity with the Greek language."

His background in classics lends itself to an appreciation for human emotions. He likes movies, particularly those that highlight personal interaction.

"I don't like animation, horror, westerns, or war movies. I like movies that deal with real people and their personal emotions and feelings. Romance, dramas, love stories...I prefer those kinds of movies. My grandchildren drag me to see animated films, and I just don't get them."

Dr. Rozema and his wife, Phyllis, live in Palos Heights, Illinois, and attend Christ Community Church of Palos Heights. They have two sons and six grandchildren.