La Aguita

Happy Halloween, Dia de los muertos, election day, and whatever else I have missed in the last few weeks. Although halloween is primarily a 'gringo' holiday, the celebration has migrated its way down to Chile. Although its not the huss and fuss it is states side, people are familiar with the day.

I decided to share the holiday with my elementary students to whom I teach english. "Calabazas" are not produced in mass here for the celebration as they are back home, so I drew a pumpkin on a piece of construction paper and made some photocopies. The kids thus 'carved' their first ever Jack-o-lanterns.

In my pre-kindergarden class (avg age 4), I had the kids all color in the pumpkin, and then I cut out the face and we turned the product into little masks for them. My most difficult class to teach are these little guys. Because they are still learning spanish, it is difficult to communicate with them. Although I speak to them 99.9% in spanish, its hard to get them to understand me sometimes, and also for them to make connections between the english words i teach them and their spanish counterpart. However, I have learned that coloring and playing simple games is the most effective use of time. One game we have played is called "semaforo" (stoplight). I have the kids line up on one side of the playground court, and when i say "green" they start running toward the other side. When I say "red" they stop. This game is very basic, and obviously seems quite boring and pointless however, the kids like it. The kids are very cute and very affectionate with me. When I arrive, they always come running, "teacher Daniel, teacher Daniel!" and hug me.

The third grade students took on the project much more independently, designing their own faces and coloring the jack-o-lanterns as they pleased. This class is also difficult, but not because they don't understand. I blame their teacher to a certain degree, but they are rambunctious and usually fighting and interrupting me as i try to speak. Every so often I have to lay the hammer down on them, but usually I keep the mood pretty light and fun. I have taught them the numbers up to 100, several colors, shapes, body parts, alphabet, greetings and goodbyes ect. Although they are not the best behaved, they don't ever disrespect me apart from talking amongst themselves sometimes while i'm talking. This group refers to me as "profe," "profesor" and "tio."

I meet with my fourth grade class right after my third grade class, and it is a great change of pace. They are very well behaved, very excited to ask me questions (ie, how do you say such and such in english?), always listen when i speak, and always participate. I have been teaching them many of the same things as the third graders, but their comprehension and retention is exponentially greater. As a result, I use much more english with them. Although I still speak in spanish about 99% of the time, they are able to link some words together. I regret not having more time with them during the week, and a better program and materials. One of their favorite games to play is Bingo. Although I change the word to something more fun and relevent and to practice letters that are more difficult. I say the letter and number in english, and the rest is the same as bingo.

I only have three more classes with each of the groups. This experience has undoubtably been a highlight of my time here. It has been great to give back to this particularly underadvantaged area and school. One thing that always strikes me is that they don't have any pencil sharpeners. In order to sharpen pencils, they use a box cutter, and some kids have there own small razor blade they keep in the pocket of their overcoat. It was a little unnerving in the begening seeing 9 and 10 year olds with free use of box cutters. I'm never worried that they would use it against me or against one another, although accidents can happen. Apart from some of the obvious differences in resources, I have learned that kids are kids no matter what country or economic class they come from.

I have posted pictures of the pumpkin carving and some playtime. They are grouped together by class. Go here: http://picasaweb.google.com/shirleydan/LaAguita

Enjoy!