Within my housing complex lives Valentina and her family. Each Monday, Valentina visits to practice her English and energetically chatter about her life. We practice English with the workbook that I use in my school, covering topics ranging from numbers and colors to animals and weather. We also practice reading with simple English books.
While she initially spent consecutive afternoons with me for multiple hours a day, we narrowed down the time that we spend together to a fun and productive hour. Just as I teach her English, she loves teaching me new Spanish words. She once carefully explained the difference between "morado" and "violeta," two shades of purple.
WorldTeach has also coordinated opportunities outside of the classroom to help volunteers gain more teaching knowledge and become more connected to the community. I attended a workshop on cross-cultural communication, as well as a press conference about bilingualism with the the mayor of Barranquilla Elsa Noguera. The other costal volunteers and I met in May to refocus our personal and professional goals for the year.
Furthermore, as part of my certification for Teaching English in a Foreign Language, I am required to send regular lesson plans and case study reflections to the WorldTeach office in Cambridge, Massachusetts. I also submit a video of myself within the classroom and a self-authored academic case study based on my experiences twice during the year.
When I submitted my first 25-minute video of class in April, a fellow volunteer came to class to assist me with the project. During the class that she recorded, the CD player didn't work and a student threw up in class. We later laughed about the chaos. I've learned to adjust with the bumps and go with the flow. I will submit another video in November to assess my progress during the second half of the year.
These components provide a multi-faceted learning experience that is challenging, but ultimately rewarding. I am pushed to the limit daily, but gain new strength with each experience.
As the first semester comes to a close, I eagerly anticipate spending a few weeks in the United States with my family this month. I already have a shopping bag full of costal treats to share with my family and friends. I also already have a shopping list of school supplies to bring with me when I return to the coast.
