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Long time no update
Entry 35 of 42 | show all | print this entry |
Hello All!
Sorry for the week delay of updates! Our internet went adios about 2 weeks ago and thus like most folk in my program I am left to use the school comps. Life is rough! I have been pretty busy the last few weeks as well, though it seems like all the world is busy at the moment because the email box has been filled with opportunities on campus with few normal emails ;)
Soo the last few weeks have really been just living anormal life in a foreign country. I go to class which is good some days and others not my favorite part of the day :)
My Salsa dance class has now started and it is alot of review of things I already learned but still loads of fun. I think Latin dance is my fav. Flamenco class continues and we are going to perform for our program so I actually need to practice a bit more... I was going to do a belly dancing class wtih my host sister because she and I both want to learn but there was no way I cuold cram it in my schedule. I learned we shared this desire when I went with my family to this way cool performance of tango, belly dance, and flamenco. It was a benefit for a nonprofit that builds schools and works in Africa... I dont remember the country... But it was very well done and I was excited to see the same flamenco I am learning done well.
I have also started going to a praise and fellowship night at my church and love it! The people are great thought I am really the odd woman out... And not because I am the pasty white american who speaks really bad spanish :) Most of the folks are either young couples with young babies or they are early high school age folks. It is still fun though and they sing spanish translations of lots of songs which makes me happy :) I just have to figure out a way to see, hey I would love to hang out with you guys without inviting myself along or imposing... Small talk is not my specialty in Spanish... or english :)
I started my volunteer work at the elementary school today and got to ask how old are you what is your name and where are you from to about 35 kids in one class and listen to about 15 kids read all the colors and numbers to twenty in another class to correct pronunciation. Sooo I am not really practicing spanish there but I needed to see the schools in Spain and it is fun to be with munchkins again. The schools are.... different. Lets just say I could never teach here. From the time the kids are about 7 I think they are in a classroom that looks like a high school class room where they sit at desks, raise there hands and fill in worksheets. There are no interactive socratic type learning opportunities from what I can tell. There is little to nothing on the walls. In the 8 year old class room there were maybe 3 tubs with books in them (I took notice for you MRs. K, you would go nuts). Lets just say I would go nuts had I beeen a student in this school and ya I struggle with judging and saying that one thing is better than another but from my extensive elementary school experience and my studying of educational methods at UP and in my spare time, I was not impressed with the set up. I am also starting to notice the lack of diversity in spain which in the class room was very apparent (and the uniforms did not help) go figure I have found something that I really appreciate about the US while in another country. As they say you don´t know waht you got til its gone :)
Ok enough of my teaching method rambling, since most of you probably do not really care
:-D
That is really all the major news... Been laying pretty low and just trying to live a normal Granada life. Next week we go to madrid, toledo and segovia with our program which I am sure will be an experience because I hate being with a big group of ignorant english speaking tourists butw e shall see, they MAY surprise me :)
Much love! And if you have any spare time I would love to hear from any of you on this mailing list! I miss knowing how all your lives are going! Even if it is a quick, hi Karen why do you always ramble so much about random stuff! it is appreciated:)
Latest Comments (1)
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Aprendizaje! (reply)
Nov 5, 2007 09:58 EST by ingviaje
Ay, Karen. Me fascinan tus cuentos de que estas aprendiendo en España. Puedo decir con confianza que la mayoridad de cosas que yo aprendo no estan en las clases, sino que estan en mis experiencias. Es muy interesante que digas sobre tu perspectiva nueva de diversidad. Algunos de mis amigos aca y yo hablamos de la misma cosa hace un rato. Estaba soprendida en la cantidad de que yo puedo agrade... show all
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