Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Musings from a Pizzería


On a breezy Monday night in Barranquilla, some were walking their dogs. Others were taking a trip to the tienda to buy beans and rice for the next day's meal. Others still were catching a bus home from work, stuck in the maze of traffic that so often plagues the streets during the evening. I, however, sat in a pizzería, sipping a maracuya juice and fighting the tears that were forming in my eyes.

Less than three weeks remain until I return to the States. 

Saying goodbye to the life that I've built over the past year is overwhelming. While being a challenge at many times, I am in awe of the overall beauty of this experience. With each obstacle overcome, I gained a new and profound fondness for the many many unique parts of this culture that have become the norm for my life. Here, underneath the squelching Caribbean sun, I unveiled a strength and grace of which I never knew.

I think of where I started. I think of where I ended. Every person that crossed my path this year was placed at the moment in my life for a reason. My student Ashley who so sweetly embraced my arrival to school, presenting me with a seashell and invitation to dinner. The quirky personalities that I met on the bike route who helped me integrate into the community. The strangers from all over the world who offered me friendship and assistance if only for a minute. 

As I sat in the pizzería with the gentle buzz of the Spanish language surrounding me, I attempted to control the overpowering nostalgia that suddenly captured my heart. Without a doubt, I stand in eager anticipation of life's next adventure; but, I struggle with parting from the vibrant color that Barranquilla has added to my life. 

Recently, I recalled a passage that I memorized in my high-school Spanish class. I am certain that I memorized these 16 words exactly so that I could reflect on them in this moment of my life six years later. Mateo 6:27: "¿Y quién de ustedes podrá, por mucho que se afane, añadir a su estatura un codo?" 

Simply, this means, "Don't worry." With the bittersweet departure from
Barranquilla that approaches, I can find peace in the unknown and appreciate the beauty and growth of what evolved to be an incredibly short year in Colombia. 

Monday, November 2, 2015

By the Numbers: TEFL Certification

With one click of a button, hundreds of hours of work are behind me. I submitted my last assignment for my Teaching English as a Second Language (TEFL) certification. Completing all the components of this certification is a gratifying accomplishment, not to mention an enormous feat.

This lifelong certification equips me with the knowledge and experience to effectively teach English-learners from any country and background. If I choose to pursue a volunteer opportunity teaching basic English to young immigrants or a weekend job tutoring advanced adults at the university level, TEFL certification makes me a more qualified candidate.

By the numbers, my certification with WorldTeach through the organization ACCREDITAT looks like this:

400 hours of teaching in the classroom
350 dollars to enroll in the program
135 hours of orientation and pre-training
25 hours of experience teaching English before the program
20 classroom-related readings and written reflections
18 lesson-plan submissions and written reflections
9 self-designed assessments and written reflections
2 25-minute video recordings of my class with written reflections
2 self-written case studies
1 co-teaching and cross-cultural communication workshop 
1 field-staff visit and constructive feedback

Among the most notable portions of the bimonthly submissions are lesson plans designed to a specific formula. During orientation in January, WorldTeach field staff taught volunteers how to design a lesson plan in five steps using: an opening, introduction to new material, group practice, individual practice, and closing. As creating lesson plans requires a resourceful mentality, I always enjoyed this portion of the certification, being able to incorporate songs, motions, occasional readings, and games into the classroom to be most effective.




The biggest component of the certification is filming a 25-minute video of class to send to the home office in Cambridge, Massachusetts for feedback. This seemingly easy task is trickier than it may seem. For my second video submission, I  succeeded in obtaining a recording only on my third attempt. My first attempt was foiled by a lack of water at the school. My second attempt failed due to a teacher leaving school early for personal reasons. My third attempt finally succeeded. As a safety precaution, I do not prefer to take my phone to school every day; therefore, special planning for this project is essential. When I was finally able to submit this video (my last assignment), I rejoiced in achieving this victory .

Although completing these assignments is a bittersweet reminder that my time in the Barranquilla is concluding, earning the TEFL certification is a fruit of my labors with lifelong implications. My experiences teaching in the unpredictable, warm, and dynamic "costeño" environment gives me a better opportunity to help English learners in the future.

From a professional development standpoint, it also helped me hone my skills to be a out-of-the-box problem solver and innovative, flexible thinker. Being able to use this training to assess my work with constructive criticism allowed me to stay focused on my goals and make daily progress.

Now, I officially offer my services to you. Do you know anyone wanting to improve his or her English-speaking skills? I can help!