Classrooms for the 21st Century
THINK GLOBALLY, ACT LOCALLY
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::Inevitably, I get asked the question, "so how was your trip?" or "so how was Africa?"
These questions have no easy answer. Most of the time I stumble and just answer, "it was wonderful." Don't get me wrong, I love being asked about my trip, but I don't think people quite understand that this simple question can be answered in one or two sentences. I could take a week to answer it. But if I had to sum it up, I would have to say: LIFE CHANGING. I know: generic and cliché, but it truly was life changing for me. Maybe not in the ways you may think or maybe not in the same way that it affected someone else, but it has given me a new perspective on my life both personally and professionally. You will learn more about my changes as the blog progresses. . . . When I first arrived in Dakar, Senegal, I didn't even know what to think. My only thought was, "holy cow, I"m in Africa !", so I was super excited to see it all. Leaving the airport was just like leaving any other international airport: lots of buildings, construction, etc. . . The only thing different was the landscape that surrounded the brand new construction. As we made our way into the city (smushed in a pick-up truck!), we saw many people out exercising, selling goods, trying to drive in traffic sans lights, etc. . . Our senses were overwhelmed with the sights and smells of this new country. We were trying to take everything in, so we would never forget this feeling. Two things that I noticed on our drive to our hotel: 1. EVERYONE was smiling. . . EVERYONE 2. There is trash everywhere. . . EVERYWHERE Both have had a lasting impression on me to this day and I often remember my time in Dakar and Diourbel to help me put my life in perspective. EVERYONE SMILES This is the truth. I avoid confrontation at all possible. I do not like upsetting or disappointing anyone, so I do my best just to lie low and just keep to myself. I am easily scared and nervous in situations in which confrontation could occur. Traffic is one of those situations. I quickly learned that even in horrible traffic with lots of horn honking, everyone is smiling and genuinely just nice to everyone else. There is no hurtful name calling or people getting out of cars yelling. . . .instead you may get made fun of for your driving and everyone leaves with a smile. Let me give you an example: My partner teacher and I visited the largest Mosque in Africa in a nearby town of Touba with our host teacher and another teacher at our school. As we were leaving, our host teacher decides to take a street known for its markets in the evening. This was not a thru street according to me, as the street was just a narrow walkway between carts of goods. My anxiety was through the roof ! How in the world were we going to make it down this street IN A CAR! This would NOT happen in the United States. First, the road would have been closed for the markets, so cars would not even attempt to drive through. Second, a driver would never make it without being harassed and the car may have been damaged, as well. NOT THE CASE in this situation. What happened shocked me: men were moving carts and goods, so we could safely make it to the other end of the street. WHAT? No one was yelling; everyone was helping. Even when a large truck was trying to pass us going the other way, men were helping so both of us could safely pass through. When we finally made it safely through the markets, I had to confess to my host teacher and his colleague about how scared I was being in that situation, especially being a woman. They were both surprised and didn't quite understand my fears. But after my partner and I explained the differences in the two cultures, they both reassured me that I would have nothing to fear. Everyone was there to help us and they were right. . . .no one was angry, just smiling and maybe making fun of my host's driving skills. . . Language learning is a subject that I am most passionate about and in which I have the most opinions and answers and gripes and love and hate and etc. . .
A little bit about my background: I've always been fascinated with travel, culture, and language. This started when families had to actually purchase encyclopedias ! I would sit for hours looking up and reading about different countries and their cultures. Nothing as really changed; I just now look it up on the world wide web. I have always been envious of those who could speak another language and just switch from one to the other with ease. To this day I am still amazed to those who can do it. As I was nearing my 40th birthday, I decided that I had enough of the envy and wanted to be one who was envied. My ancestral background is French (French Canadian to be exact~even my 23 and Me confirmed this!...lol), so I decided that it was French I was going to learn. I read as many books as I could get my hands on, took classes at the local university, on line, and even at the prestigious Middlebury Language School. I did as much as I could do and as much as my family could tolerate. And so my education continues. . . . I am NOT fluent by any means. I can hold a basic conversation and probably could surprise you and myself (and even my French family) as to what I can actually do with the language (when I have confidence). I do not brag nor do I like when others say that I am fluent in French. I get that panic deep below. Why? Because my listening and listening comprehension is deplorable. It's embarrassing. I try my best, but as we all are, I am super hard on myself. Still, I put myself out there. Maybe one day it will click. . . So where am I going with this? How is language learning seen and "done" in other countries? This was my focus question from the very beginning of my TGC journey. I had so many questions. Is immersion the best way to obtain a SECOND LANGUAGE (not a a first language. . .that's apples and oranges according to me)? What about grammar ? Listening Labs ? Should you use your native language to help understand your SECOND LANGUAGE ? I still have these questions, because I find that there is no true answer, but the journey continues. One of our first stops in Dakar was to the US Embassy where we learned more about the state of education in Senegal and what the educational trends are currently in the country. Senegalese schools are taught in the lingua franca (French), even though French is not the native language of the students. At home, the students will speak their indigenous language, which is most often Wolof (but can be a myriad of indigenous languages), but instruction at school is given in French. School is hard enough for children at such a young age: being away from their mother and/or siblings, now add being spoken to in a language that you have maybe never heard. Scary is probably an understatement. I can kind of relate to this as I spend the summer of 2014 in Middlebury, Vermont, with no English being spoken to me. There is now a movement to include classroom instruction in the native languages(s) of the students. How comforting this would be to those children ! I know as a SECOND LANGUAGE learner (as an adult), I had much more success with English was interspersed in my French learning. It wasn't a crutch as those "purist" language teachers may have you believe. Sometimes, you needed to have this affirmation that you are on the right track and that you are doing a great job. I wasn't completely lost in a world of French ! This is still in the very beginning stages of planning as they need the support from the government in order to be able to teach in these indigenous languages. I believe that these indigenous languages need to be celebrated among its tribes and showcased. Hearing how English is taught as a second language (as well as other languages within the school) in Sengal really makes me realize just how far behind we are as a nation with language education and language acquisition. It boggles my mind that we think we are being so progressive in our language teaching, but yet, we are so far behind other nations. For example, second language learners are assessed on 4 components: listening/speaking, writing, reading comprehension, and GRAMMAR ! What ? The Senegalese teachers teach grammar lessons. . . . that are not necessarily in context and through immersion ? Why, yes, they do. . . and their students are learning their 3rd, 4th, or even 5th languages in school. And what’s more, when students learn English, they learning situational language that they would use on a daily basis. This is far different from what I do in my French classroom. Sitting there hearing educational experts explaining this, made me realize what a disservice I am doing to my students. I see my students every OTHER day for an entire year. Our curriculum is so packed with information that I could spend an entire semester on one unit, but yet I am to teach one unit per quarter (about 4.5 weeks). I love teaching French. I want everyone to love it as much as I do. I feel like I go so fast, that the students really don't get to learn the French like I learned it. I want them to have a firm grasp on the basics. I don't need my level three students talking about art; I need them to be able to tell the hotel staff that they need more towels, that they do not have hot water; that their air conditioner is not working properly. . . I want them to be able to ask the person selling Metro tickets which is the best value for their money; to explain why their ticket didn't work; to ask for directions when they come up from the Metro;. . . .I want them to be able to order a meal and a drink with ease; to be able to ask what is on special;. . . I want them to be able to navigate the train station or the airport; to ask for their luggage, to get a taxi or Uber. . . These are the things that matter. These are the things that will give the students the right to brag. . . not what is in their book bag, or what they need for school, or how to be a green citizen. These things will come eventually. Let our students be able to brag to others that they not only know a language, but can speak it with confidence. It's the least we can do. If you made it this far, thank you ! I would love to hear your comments and thoughts on second language learning. It's finally taken me another international trip to continue and finish my thoughts on my International Field Experience this spring. The next few blog posts will be my reflections on my trip. On April 18, 2018, we arrived as a group in Dakar, Senegal, but didn’t get checked into the hotel until a little after 7pm. It was a long day of travel, but after a nice meal, a good night’s rest, and some coffee the next morning, I was ready to begin my day of adventure. After our required sessions of the Senegalese Education System and teacher training, we were off to see Le Monument de la Renaissance. This monument is nothing like I’ve ever seen. We arrived about 30 minutes after the museum and tours were closed, but we were able to tour the museum inside and then we were able to take the elevator to the top of the monument and was able to look over the city of Dakar. The architect was Senegalese, but the statue was built and brought over by the North Koreans. That’s French for Happy Birthday. And yes, today is my birthday and today I turn 44 years old. I often associate the new year with my birthday since it is so late in the year, but this year it’s really important to me to begin anew.
2017 was not kind to me. . . well, most of it. A month after celebrating my 16th wedding anniversary, my husband and I separated. The months that have followed the separation has been a roller coaster of ups, downs, and surprises. The downs have been more prevalent, but I am slowly making my climb back up. I’m learning to juggle stress, bills, and house cleaning by myself, which will always be a struggle for me. Amidst the breakdowns and the tears, there are some great things happening in my life. And this is where the birthday/new year comes into play. 2018 will be the year of learning. . . about myself and just what I am made of. It also marks the year of travel for me. Today, I am traveling to Boston to meet friends for a few days. I need this time away to decompress from the hardest Christmas I have ever experienced. It was my first Christmas without waking up with my daughter and presents. She is with her dad this holiday (and having a blast !), but it’s been a rough go for me. I am learning (slowly) that I don’t always have to be the strong one. I can let others see me struggling and hurting. And it’s okay. I’m beginning a new chapter in my life. In January, I will be off again, but this time to San Antonio, Texas. I’ve never been to Texas, but I hear the Riverwalk in San Antonio is a must-see and must-do. Again, I will be alone and I will be okay. I know I will only learn more about myself and what I am made of. February marks the beginning of my learning adventure. In 2017, I was awarded a Teachers for Global Classrooms Fellowship and took an intensive on-line class in the fall that has lead me to my international placement for the spring. February is when I travel to Washington, D.C., to meet the other fellows and learn more about my international placement: SENEGAL ! And today, on my birthday, is where my story begins. . . . Chapter 2. |
Christy ShinnickFrench Teacher Archives
August 2018
CategoriesTravel - Here you will find my travel blog as well as my reflections on language learning.
Study - Here you will find resources and assessment tools for assessing global competency. Teach - Here you will find sample lessons that you can adapt to your own classroom or the World Language Classroom. About Me - Learn a little about who I am and where I come from. More - Here you will find opportunities for Global Learning and Travel for both students and teachers |