Living here is just fine, I realy like. It almost feels normal, like at homw. But the teachign part is really hard. If Í´m going through culture shock, it would be in this area. The teacher does not know enough English and there have been many times in just a week that we have mis understood each other. She´s very load, I guess is the easiest way to explain it. Basically, learning English here is like taking Spanish or French in high school back in the States. The students really don´t care. My first day in the classroom, many students were talking when the teacher was and they got away with a lot. I wouldn´t put up with that at all! Then, she has me plan some activities, and we don´t even get to them. She has tried to tell me that my English grammar wasn´t right.....excuse me? oh, yesterday, we had like a two hour break and she left and I was stuck in Ollanytatambo with nothing to do! Going to an internet cafe was out of the question because it was 3 soles and hour where in urubamba it´s only 1. She likes to surprise me with stuff and change plans a lot. I know I should try to relax and take it easy, and try not to look at it from a Western, developed nation´s persepective, but it´s so hard! it´s not the way i would teach at all! I like to be prepared etc, I don´t feel like she is or is very organized.
Oh and another thing, each student is given a number, and that is how roll call is taken. Number one, are you present? si or no. It´s very weird. But, there´s like 40 students in each class and two sections per grade, so I see over 100, maybe close to 200, students a week. SO I can understand that. It´s just weird. It´s very different. It´s only been a weeka nd i feel like i want to scream and yell at her! It´s only a week, so I¨m hoping it gets better. The good thing is is that a few students have taken the time to talk to me, which makes me feel good. Plus I taught a lesson today and it went pretty well. For the most part, the students are great, but it´s a completely different atmostphere.
I am solo on Friday since my teacher is gone for the day. I get a class of senior aged boys all alone. How wonderful. I´m hoping it goes ok. I get a break tomorrow, I´ll take the time to plan and rest since I caught a little cold.
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Well, now you'll have a different perspective from which to view our wonderful country. but realizing there are other cultures out there and accepting their ways will be part of your experience and growth. I would imagine their laid back approach will be making you crazy!! Are you enjoying the scenery? the food? the people? Bernie
ReplyDeleteand the teacher thinking you have English wrong gives me the clue she knows the Kings English, not our slang butchered English! B
ReplyDeleteshe doesn´t have a good hold of english period. i´m going to bet she´s learned a little english english and american egnlish. their laid back approach is refreshing, but in terms of teaching, the unperpardness is hard to get ahold of. but i love the scenary, the food is amzaing (my host mother is a great cood)and the people are generally nice. it´great!
ReplyDeletewhat an adventure!! this will definately help you understand mexican cultures when you come back to the states, also helping you understand and sympathize with multiple cultural clashes. keep at the hard work tiff, like you said its only the first week.
ReplyDeletegarrett
dude, I had a similar experience in regards to culture shock at the schools. I worked at a school where the students were all kicked out of other schools. No one listened or cared about classes. The teachers..well there would be new ones each month. Perhaps its like that at your school..where there are new people/volunteers each month? Nothing would ever start on time. Id show at 7 and no one would show till 9. Then, I would get opportunities to lead a class, but nothing was ever scheduled on time. Lunch would go for two hours and boom I was ready to go. So, how did I get through it? I just went with the flow I suppose. i also started to realize they get paid shit and when you get paid shit to deal with little shits in a run down place, structure is not a big deal. That's how it was explain to me from the boss. Eventually I put on the laid back coat and walked with the herd while I sang camp songs. ha...rock on peruana!
ReplyDeleteAlicia
I would say the best thing you'll get out of this experience is more exposure to Spanish. So you might really be the student here! B
ReplyDelete