When I was 3 years old
I told my mother I didn’t know what I wanted to be when I grow up – ballerina,
artist, princess – I didn’t mind as long as I didn’t become a teacher. I still
can’t say teaching is my calling, but after 3 weeks of teaching I must admit, I
do enjoy it.
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Student presenting on her culture |
Since Cohort 6 began facilitating
sessions, the focus of Up Close’s English classes has changed. We’ve left
behind the traditional approach of teaching English through endless grammar and
vocabulary exercises, and instead focus on teaching English for Tourism. We’ve
been planning each class around the characteristics of a “good host”, with
topics ranging from the tourist attractions in Mallasa, to information about
celebrations, traditions and history.
The highlight of my
teaching career so far has been our “transmit your culture” class. We asked all our
students to bring something that represented their culture, be it food, an object
or a presentation. Knowing that the majority of the students have full-time
jobs and may have other priorities, we weren’t expecting a massive
turnout. We were pleasantly surprised when
every single student had prepared something for the class; two sisters prepared
a Todos Santos offering for the souls of the dead; children played panpipes;
and one family brought miniature objects they had bought from the Alasitas
Fair.
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Class, with objects representing their culture |
For our next class, we
teachers have promised to present our cultures. Following the presentations of
our students, I’m going to have to think a bit harder about how to respresent
my culture - I don’t think that showing a few photos from home will really cut
it anymore!
Written by Katriina Virtanen
Edited by Sarah Cassidy
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