So Much Peru

Teaching

Well, I guess I should begin with what has been demanding the majority of my attention and energy:  teaching.  I am officially halfway done with the teaching project as the program is only 6 weeks long and I have just concluded my third week.  Time flew by so quickly!  I have been working so hard to provide my class the best foundation in English they can possibly get.  As I speak Spanish, I was given a class of thirty filled with people who have a basic or below basic level of English.  My students are actually teachers.  The program is geared towards educators who seek to learn English to better their practice and to be able to share their ideas on an international scale.  I would say the age range of my class is from about 25-65.  It’s never too late to learn a new language! 

Initially, I thought I would want to teach alone.  I thrive as an individual and would not have to worry about the balance of leadership between a partner and myself.  Also, I would not get screwed over by being given all the work.  Sure I would be happy to do it all, but not while my “co-teacher” would be slacking off.  Anyway, each of us was given a partner to teach with, but there was a flaw in the way this was set up.  The coordinators thought it would be a good idea to pair up the people who know absolutely no Spanish with the people like me who can write, understand, and communicate in Spanish.  Well, this system is nice in theory as the person who doesn’t speak it can be translated by the speaker, and can begin to learn a bit of the language, but it reality, the Spanish speaker ends up doing all the work.  The basic classes cannot ask questions in English, so the Spanish speaker is left doing all the work.  Whenever the person who can’t speak Spanish tries to communicate with the students, they have to speak very slowly and use very simple words and it makes me think that the students feel as if they are children.  It just didn’t work.  So after the first 2 weeks with one partner, a few people were switched around and I was given a partner that had at least a little Spanish.  Still, I have to do the majority of the lecturing because explaining grammar points in English to them would be entirely useless.  But things like vocabulary, games, and review work for my partner so I do get some time to relax during class.  Both of my partners are awesome and are my good global gap friends and it has been a pleasure working with them both.

My students are stars.  They all want to learn, so it is never a struggle to get their attention.  They take copious notes and ask questions and are so keen to understand.  I try to keep the class fun and exciting, so I’ll crack jokes or dance around while lecturing or whatever else to keep them entertained and engaged.  So, if I do say so myself, the class really likes me!  Each day a different student will ask to take a picture with me, or ask for my facebook name, or will give me a snack!  One day early on in the program, I gave the class a worksheet with some songs in English written on the back and brought my ukulele.  I played the songs for them and we all sang together and they absolutely loved it.  Now it has become routine for me to play them a song at the end of class as our plenary review.  We even wrote a song together and sing that one everyday =)  Here are some pictures of my class and me.

If anybody is wondering about the structure of our class and the order in which we have been teaching, read this paragraph.  If not, go ahead and skip this stuff.  Each day we begin with Spanglish Ball, which is where we throw a ball to the students and when they catch it, they have to say a sentence in English that fits the criteria we give them and then they translate it to Spanish.  Next, we usually teach them new vocabulary and then play some games with the new words.  They always seem to enjoy competition.  Next we will move on to our main concept, which is always a verb tense.  Week one was present simple.  Week two was past simple.  And finally week 3 was present and past continuous.  Throughout the days we also add smaller grammar points to their repertoire such as this/that/these/those, possessive adjectives and pronouns, prepositions, plurals, articles, many/much/a lot of, and so much more.  We also review everyday.  We have covered a lot of material in the past three weeks, and hope that we give them the tools needed to retain all the information we have thrown at them.  We play games, do worksheets, and take tests to go over topics we have already gone over.  Like I said earlier, we always wrap up the day with some music.  Days when we run out of time, they still request to stay late and listen to some music.  It is so sweet.  An activity we do with the music that they tell me helps a lot is when I give them a schematic of a song with blanks in the lyrics and they have to fill them in as I sing.  They also enjoying singing along with me as it helps with their pronunciation.  Every time I introduce a new song, I translate the lyrics to Spanish so they can mark down any new vocabulary or take note of a new verb tense.  I want them to understand the meaning in all of the songs and see how the mess of words in a song can convey a beautiful message.  Oh!  And another thing!  Our classroom is plastered in labels!  From the whiteboard to the mountains outside our windows, we have tagged the classroom to pieces.  Also, every time we introduce new vocabulary, we put a poster up above the whiteboard with all of the new words on it.  Now that the third week is over, we have quite a few posters.  Some of the vocabulary subjects we have taught are places, prepositions, school supplies, parts of the body, illnesses, greetings, family, jobs, emotions, weather, food, drink, clothes, and more.  IT’S SO MUCH. I DON’T KNOW HOW THEY DO IT!  Like I said, my class is incredible.

Teaching has been an absolute joy.  It is so fulfilling to be able to see the progress of your students and know that they care about you.  I adore this project and appreciate the fact that I am appreciated.  When I am sick, my class brings me snacks, tells me to rest, and offers me their coats.  When I am bubbly and energetic, they laugh and support me.  When they ask me about my life back in California or the rest of my trip, I answer them honestly and they give me their attention and friendship.  I have such a wonderful bond with my students and I am so sad to think that in just 3 weeks I won’t be seeing them regularly.  Good times.  Good times.

 

Life at my House

My host family and I have gotten really close.  I realized Dede’s name is actually Derek with a very strong Peruvian accent, so that is hilarious.  He is hilarious in general.  He is obsessed with skeleton toys, so naturally when he had a plastic container shaped like a man, he filled it with water and apple slices and froze it.  The next day he took it from the fridge and began licking it like a popsicle.  I have nothing more to say about that except here is a picture of him beaming with pride holding the man. 

 

Luciana is very sweet, but keeps falling down and hurting herself.  She is a bit of a tomboy like I was.  Still, like me, she enjoys painting her nails, and I have even painted her nails for her. 

 

Nimia and Ayul are great parents.  They truly love their children and know when it’s best to discipline them or cuddle them.  They are a good team.  The house is usually busy as at any given moment they are hosting at least 3 foreigners.  Nimia has hired a helper named Vanessa to help around the house and with food.  She is super nice.  I live downstairs in a separate apartment with a Costa Rican who is my age called Mariana.  Upstairs is the family and a Brazilian woman called Maria.  Mariana and I come up for meals and to hang out with the kids whenever we want to.  We have keys, so the upstairs is always open for us which is nice.  Here are some photos of the upstairs apartment.

 

 

 

Mercado San Pedro

I have frequented El Mercado San Pedro (The Market Saint Peter) 3 times now for food and juice.  This market is indoors, up the street from the main square (Plaza de Armas).  There you can find souvenirs, clothes, jewelry, traditional Peruvian food, and traditional Peruvian ingredients.  I have had the same meal at the market each time I have gone there.  4 Soles ($1.33) for soup, lomo saltado (tenderloin), rice, salad, fries, and a drink.  It is very good considering how cheap it is.  Below are some pictures of the market.

 

Pisaq Ruins

I went to Pisaq with some Canadians and saw some pretty cool ruins.

 

Plaza de Armas

I often go to the main square, which is a 25 minute walk from my house to write songs and play music.  I don’t do it for money, I do it for myself and to meet new people.  Peruvians and tourists alike will come up to me for a listen and will make conversation.  It is very fun.  The plaza has many restaurants, bars, shops, travel agencies, and even a club.  There are two massive churches in the plaza as well as a fountain that sits in the middle.  Locals are always trying to sell you something but the municipal police shoos them away with their whistles and segways. 

 

Met some Chileans who had a guitar and played with them.

Avenida del Sol

The main street by my house that I take to get the plaza is called Avenida del Sol (Sun Avenue).  It has banks, shops, travel agencies, restaurants, supermarkets, and so much more.  There are some random ruins that sit alongside the road too (see picture below), which is rather cool.  There is also this funky map of the area that shows traditional Peruvian life in the bustling streets.  If you want directions you do not use this map.  Its sole purpose in my book is for a laugh or chortle.