Living in a nother culture is really hard sometimes. It´s not like the people are horrible, but sometimes the language barrier is so exhuasting. There have been numerous times where I was at lunch with my cooperating teacher and other professors at the school and I didn´t understand a word of the conversation. My teacher didn´t help translate and I was completely lost. I wanted so bad to be part of the conversation, but didn´t have the language to converse. They probably think I´m anti social. The worse part though is when your students try talking to you and you don´t know what they are saying! I want to help them out so much, but it´s so hard. Then, my spoken Spanish is also not the best. I try so hard, and at least I try. I know I mess up all the time, and of course I get the looks of ¨what did you just say? I don´t understand.¨ Then of course I get laughs too. That is the most humiliating part. I don´t know if they are laughing at me or what I said incorrectly, or someting else. I get so self concious.
Today I had to teach solo, which I didn´t think would be a problem because they were supposed to be my easy classes, but I had such a hard time getting them to listen. I gave my fourth grade class a test and they wouldn´t be quiet. I´m pretty sure they cheated. I´ve wanted to cry so many times b ecasue of the language barrier and just the different ways they do things. Peruvians tend to be loud...like talke loud in the morning when you are sleeping or playing music late at night pretty loud. I don´t know, it´s hard to throw yourself into a new culture. Now I COMPLETELY understand how immigrant children in the U.S. must feel. I guess knowing this feeling I can help them better when I become a teacher.
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I bet it's hard, but give yourself tons of credit for jumping in there and doing what you are doing. And the more you do it, the easier it gets.
ReplyDeleteit doesnt seem that way. i feel like the more i try to be a part of the culture here the more problems/difficulties i face. i am giving myself credit, its just can be so frustrating when you dont understand! lol
ReplyDeleteI understand your frustration completely. However, look at it this way... you will be more empathetic when you are teaching ESL because you have been the outsider. Give yourself an A+ for trying to be part of their culture. You may never know, but you may have made a difference in somebody's life there. Dad
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