An EFL (English Foreign Language) teacher who teaches grade 2, 4, and 6 Science and grade 11 Philosophy and World History. As you can imagine, I have been learning a lot about what it means to be a teacher. It is very different from being an engineer.
To give an understanding of my range of topics and students, I wrote down some sample problems from each class:
Grade 2 Science
Does a tadpole turn into a frog? [I would probably put in a picture, or have a catchy song]
Grade 4 Science
What is a monkey’s habitat?
Grade 6 Science
An Earthquake is when earth’s tectonic plates move against each other. True or False?
Grade 11 History
A Liberal perspective of history sees change as progress.
Why was the Nile flooding important to Ancient Egyptians?
Grade 11 Philosophy
Compare and contrast the fatalism perspective on tragedy with what we have learned from the Book of Job.
As you can see, quite a range from Grade 2 to Grade 11.
My typical day starts with eating oatmeal, packing up my laptop, school books, and handouts, and walking three blocks down muddy streets to school with a coffee in hand. Once I get to school I check my email and get ready in the teacher’s lounge. There are usually students playing futbol in the field in the middle of school. I have elementary in the morning, and high-school in the afternoon.
As I walk to class there are usually one or two younger elementary students who yell out “Mr. Darrell!” and give me a high-five. I don’t have my own classroom; I just take over for the elementary teachers when it is time for Science. Teaching in front of a class of students can be rewarding and fulfilling, or it can be stressful and aggravating. Having an engaging lesson plan and being prepared helps, but sometimes there is nothing you can do.
I teach four 40 minute periods for each grade of science every week. For high school, I teach three 40 minute periods of Philosophy a week and four 40 minute periods of History a week. In addition, I help the elementary teachers as an assistant for eight hours a week. This usually entails grading student work, helping students who are behind or were absent, or supervising an activity. Along with lesson planning, grading, and everything else, it is more than a full-time job.
The schools in Honduras only go to Grade 11. After that they will go to University or find a job. I am the Grade 11 homeroom teacher, or maestro guía. This has been pretty fun; I have helped with fundraisers, marched with them in the city’s Independence Day Parade, and will be dancing with them in an upcoming Cultural Day presentation (with Karen as my partner). Near the end of the year I will be going on a weekend trip with them too.
Grade 11 class t-shirt (above), check out 13 down...
Teaching here doesn’t seem like it would be too different from teaching in America. I have my laptop, internet access, a printer, photocopier, and whiteboard. We use an online grade tracking tool which is pretty handy. No TVs or projectors in the classroom, but if I want to show a video I will sometimes show it on my laptop, or I can take my class to the library (yes, a there is a library too) that has a projector.
There is definitely a language barrier between me and the students. They take separate English language classes, but I am often teaching the class new words or grammar. There is always debate in schools like this if it is worthwhile teaching core subjects in a foreign language. Some students seem to flourish, while others seem to struggle through every class. I am still undecided on what is best for the students.
I mentioned I eat oatmeal everyday for breakfast. This is partly because I like oatmeal, but partly to give my stomach something hearty and basic for the rest of the day. I eat lunches at the school casetta, a taco shack on the school grounds, which has delicious food but can be a bit hard on the stomach. I learned quickly that Honduran food is different from Mexican food. The ingredients are the same, but everything is made differently. A Honduran taco is a fried Mexican enchilada. A Honduran enchilada is an open faced taco on a hard shell. They don’t have burritos, yet, but they have an amazing snack called a beleada, a thick flour tortilla with a very thin layer of refried beans, scrambled eggs, and cheese folded over and served hot. Yum!
Every once in a while I will play futbol afterschool. It is pretty much the only exercise I have been getting in. Once I get home I usually have one to three hours of work to get done. It seems like time here has been flying by.
The first quarter is over Oct 28th. We have to leave the country to renew our visa (what a shame…), so Karen and I will be going to Guatemala for 4 nights with a few of the other teachers.
Thanks for reading, I hope this was an informative update. Please email me if you have the time.
~Mr. Darrell White
Sounds like you're having an amazingly enriching experience down there =D. You're right, that doesn't seem all too different from school life in the US!
ReplyDeleteHow early do they start learning English though? If a high schooler were to come to the US for university, would they be able to get by with the English they know? Or is it treated the same way foreign language instruction is treated in the US?
And how's your spanish coming along? xP
The school starts introducing English as early as pre-school. Unless they speak English outside of school, like with English speaking family members, they may still have some difficulties. In general, the hardest thing for any English Language Learner studying in a US university is writing papers. The professors expect a very high level of writing ability which is hard to master for anyone in a second language.
ReplyDeleteThe Spanish is coming along. I am getting to practice all that I have learned and forgotten from High School. The once a week classes are super helpful. We have just started going over past and future tenses!
~Darrell White