Alicja Duda (2)

June 20, 2012

Today was my last day volunteering as a Teacher Assistant—so we had a Fiesta! J (Note: I am blessed to have this position as my CLA during the school year—so I will be back later this August! J ) All of the students and I brought homemade food to represent our traditional cultures: we had tamales, plenty of tortillas, flan, empanadas, mole, and galapki (pronounced “go-wom-kee”), a Polish dish that I brought. It was really nice to have a day off of teaching and learning and to take time to simply spend time with each other. Lots of the students’ children came to enjoy the food and festivities, which made it a very familial and warm atmosphere. When it was time to say goodbye, I was both surprised and touched when every student gave me a hug, thanked me for helping them throughout the summer, and blessed me with a “Que Dios te bendiga” (God bless you).

After the Fiesta, Miguel and I discussed the day and the past summer term of ESL. (Our post-class discussions--about the students, about current events, about school, about politics--have become a regular part of the day and something I look forward to). We first discussed the basic tenants of teaching, which I found very insightful and would like to share:

(1) Students are the M.I.P.s of the classroom (Most Important People). Miguel told me that in all of his ESL classes, both he and his students sign a contract; he agrees, as their teacher, to help his students learn English and to fulfill their personal goals to the best of his ability. Likewise, his students agree to give their very best effort both during and outside of class to make the most of their education.

(2) Teachers are there to guide the students, not to boss them. In other words, teachers should not merely stand in front of the class and dictate the knowledge to the students; rather, the teacher should be among the students as a guide to facilitate the learning process. Especially in an ESL classroom, the former method of teaching is very common. While teaching English can become dry, it is important, Miguel noted, to keep in mind the students’ cultural and social contexts. You can do this through getting to know your students (their careers, their family lives, their dreams, their immigration stories), sharing these stories through in-class discussions in English, and relating the teaching material to their personal lives.

(3) MISTAKES ARE WONDERFUL. Two simple reasons: they are ways of knowing where the student stands in the class and they serve as invaluable learning opportunities. However, Miguel warned me that it is important for the teacher to know when it is appropriate to correct a mistake. For example, during a reading exercise in which the students take turns reading a text aloud, sometimes a student will struggle over a word. Sometimes, it is okay for the teacher to openly correct the student by helping them to pronounce the word correctly. Sometimes, especially if the teacher has already openly corrected many of the student’s mistakes or if the student is shy, it is okay to allow the mistake to occur uncorrected. The best scenario is when a student makes a mistake, recognizes the mistake, and corrects it himself.

Miguel and I also reflected on the overall success of the students throughout the school year and the summer; ALL of the students improved their test scores and most will advance at least one level in the class. Miguel also told me that I work well with the students and that they really appreciate having me as a part of the classroom. If you have ever volunteered in a classroom before, you will understand how this kind of compliment is music to my ears. As a Teacher Assistant, it is difficult to tell whether or not I am truly building a strong, trusting relationship with the students; my only tangible results are attendance and test scores. To be honest, my biggest fear coming into this position a few months ago was that I would be perceived as “the little white girl” helping the Mexicans to learn English. Indeed, I was that little white girl. However, after I consistently came to classes and patiently worked with each student with a smile on my face, we have broken down the race barrier and now perceive each other based on our character and personality. It truly makes me happy to know that the students enjoy learning from me as much as I enjoy teaching them J