Teaching English: Day 1

I am teaching English at a "casa hogar", basically an orphanage, and I taught my first class last night. The kids range from 4-17 years old, so I split them into 2 groups and will teach 4-11 yearolds on Mondays, and 12-17 year olds on Wednesdays. They are all girls who have been rescued from bad home situations- abuse, neglect, or violence. I went last night not knowing if they had any English knowledge, so I was clueless as to where to start.

I went with a game plan of talking about communication- why is it important, have you ever felt misunderstood, how do we use language, etc. I really wanted them to share about themselves- what do they like to do, what are their dreams, etc. We spent some time doing that, while I spent time trying to figure out how to spell their names which was an utter disaster!

Anyways, a few were disconnected, but most of them wanted to jump into saying complete sentences! It was really funny, so I went with it. I didn't have a board or anything, so I used a sheet of paper and they all gathered close so they could see- we were sitting at outside tables. I'm going to buy a whiteboard this week.

Though any teacher knows you can't start with complexities, I figured I would translate all these sentences for them since it was the first time, and it helped me see where we need to start next week. We are going to start with verb charts and all that fun stuff cause I THINK that'swhat a good teacher would do. hahah.

Sometimes I feel really ethnocentric saying I am going to teach English. I guess I view it differently. These girls are very behind in school. I'm not going because I really believe that they can learn English in 1 month- who could? This is more what I'm thinking:

If I can instill a passion for learning, where could that take them? How could me, coming to study in another country and trying to learn their language, inspire them to reach for what has been deemed unattainable for them? How can I encourage them to better themselves as people- I think this is easier since I'm closer to their age. If they develop a passion for english, and continue learning once I leave, these kids could really become bilingual and they could serve as a voice for so many people!

I asked every girl what they wanted to become. Many said teachers. How flippin awesome! They want to inspire generations. How much more of a drive that gives me to inspire them! More than anything, I want to give them confidence and passion to achieve what they want. If English helps them, then great. But if not, I sure hope me being there does more than teach them how to say the months of the year in English.

Last night, I had NO guidelines on what to do. I didn't even know how long the class was supposed to last. So I told the kids, leave when you want. haha. (I wish I had me as a teacher in middle school.) Anyways, 2 hours later, the 16 year old is still sitting with me. She is asking me all of these translations for things like, "I'll love you forever." and "You are a great person."-- I think she has a boy in mind. Then, the dad of the orphanage comes to the window (didn't know they were listening!) He then tells me to be careful because this girl wants to learn english sentences so that she can bully and attack other kids. She had asked one bad thing, but that was it. I tried to show him all the good things she had asked how to say. It made me really sad. This girl actually wanted to get to know me. Who knows, maybe she did want to learn things to distruct, but still- she wanted to learn! I really felt like there was a connection. I mean, I know it was my first day and all, but there is just something I see in her- incredible potential! She reminded me of myself as a kid. There is so much going on inside her head. So much that she looks like she is about to spew! So much that nobody quite understands her. The workers their told me "she is very special" so they see something, but I wonder if she really believes that. Does she really believe that others believe in her or does she just think they are waiting for her to screw up? I don't know how to explain it. I know, I know, it was just the first day, but I think that these english classes are going to be about 30 minutes of class, and 1 hour of hanging out and undefined mentorship. Fine with me!

I'm really excited. I wasn't excited to teach the lil kids, but now Im flipping excited cause they were so stinkin cute! I don't think lil kids are my forte, but I'll give it a shot. I start with the lil ones on monday.

All in all- I think this experience is going to be huge for me. I want to work as a residential counselor in a youth home when I graduate this Spring. These girls are in the same situation. For the past year, I have wished I was going to school for a teaching degree so that I could teach English as a Second Language in an inner city school in the US. I think this will really help me decide if thats something I want to pursue. I wish I would have gotten a teaching degree so that I could teach in for a few years before getting my Masters of Social Work.

I used to hate kids. Seriously. Now, I realize that I have a passion for the trouble makers, the misunderstood, and "at risk" kids. In my opinion, the biggest thing they are "at risk" for, is society giving up on them. I don't want to do that. I want to believe in these kids, and I really do. Is it weird that I'm tearing up? I just really believe that they are full of beauty. Beatuy in disguise is my favorite kind! It's the possible mission that we too often call, "mission impossible."

I wish I had training on this stuff. I'm just worried I will get kicked out of the orphanage for being too much of a friend, and not enough of a teacher. We shall see! Now I just have to figure out how to teach a 4 year old....