Getting back into the swing of things after vacation can always be a challenge, but this week was not as tough as I thought it was going to be.  It was kind of nice to be back in Portuguese class, I feel that I need a lot more practice, of course, but it is nice to actually be receiving formal instruction.  I believe learning a second language is a life-long journey when you begin the process as an adult. This is why I think it is so very important to learn a minimum of two languages as a child, as is customary in many other countries around the world, including here in Brazil.  I have firmly decided that my children will be immersed in at least two languages growing up, luckily my husband is fluent in Spanish!

One afternoon this week we designed and made key chains, earrings and bracelets.  I have to admit I was at first skeptical as to what exactly making jewelry had to do with teaching.  However, at the end I thought it was tied together nicely as we discussed briefly and then each wrote out how we could incorporate activities such as these into our own classrooms in our specific subject areas.  It really is amazing how many different ways there are to teach any one topic.  How much fun a student will have learning material entirely depends on the creativity of the teacher.   When we talk about creativity we often immediately go to drawing a picture, or putting it into a song, but what these afternoon sessions have highlighted for me more than anything is that this impression of "being creative" is in and of itself is a confined form of creativity.  Stepping out of the creativity box and into the vastness of creative thinking we can use any number of mediums to creatively teach a topic, from graphics and beading to dance and theater. 

As teachers I think it is important to hold onto our inner child.  We must remember the creativity with which we looked at the world when we were younger, the questions we asked and the things that held our interest.  If we can keep the inner child alive in ourselves than we will be that much better prepared to interact and connect with our students and to truly teach them subject matter in a comprehendible and enjoyable manner.

Another activity this week involved several of my colleagues presenting lesson plans.  It was interesting and enjoyable to see the different teaching styles and I was able to take a lot away from the presentations. 

I feel that I got to see my fellow travel companions in a new light and am increasingly impressed with the individuals I have had the opportunity to meet on this journey.  Each member of this student teaching cohort is creative, passionate and motivated to make a difference, which I find admirable.  I am grateful for the opportunity to get to know each of these individuals more fully and to learn from them not only the innumerable approaches available to becoming a better teacher, but also to becoming a better person.  

A Week to Explore Beleza Brasil!

This past week has been one great adventure after another!  Because of Easter, all of our classes were cancelled and we had the entire week free to do as we pleased.  On Saturday I visited Vila Velha with several of the other girls.  The rock formations were awe inspiring and I found it an incredible feeling to be so small and stand next to something naturally so large and impressive.  Rock completely shaped by the wind and rain.  It was fun to attempt to see the shapes the rocks had come to form over the ages, a coke bottle, a dolphin, a camel, and Indian head among others. 

On Sunday we left for Ilha do Mel, or Honey Island.  It was about a three hour bus ride to Pontal do Sul followed by a 30 minute ferry ride to the Encantadas side of the Island.  The ride was a bit choppy, but after the long bus ride feeling the fresh sea air on my face was a welcome change.  Upon arriving on the island we stopped to get lunch.  The prices were rather steep but I was not about to complain because the view was priceless.  After eating we proceeded on to our hostel, Pousada Tia Tina, run by a young couple I found absolutely charming.  In fact, as I told my companions the entire trip “I want to grow up to be like them” – of course they were probably only 3-5 years older than me, but they seemed to have life all figured out.

The beaches on Isla do Mel were absolutely gorgeous and because we were traveling during the off season, we had them mostly to ourselves.  It truly was an indescribable place with each direction you turned offering a different feast for the eyes.  To one side would be the gorgeous ocean with clear blue skies, to the other side would be the caves with wide gaping entrances beckoning you to come explore, and behind would be deep green rolling hills reminiscent of the picturesque Scottish hillside.  The entire island was covered with twisting greenery and a flower the deepest shade of red one can imagine.  The only road was a dirt packed trail meandering its way through the island and meant only for walking, not a single car could be seen on the island.  Ilha do Mel truly was beautiful and offered an incredibly tranquil atmosphere to spend a few days recharging from the hustle and bustle of city life.

We took the ferry and then another bus back to Curitiba, arriving back to our hotel at about 5pm.  Our next bus was to leave for Foz do Iguazu at 10pm that night.  This bus ride would be a 10 hour overnight trip and I was not looking forward to it one bit.  However, it went smoothly and we arrived in the late morning.  The owner of our hostel was wonderful and drove to the bus station to pick us up.  After a quick tour of the most amazing hostel I have ever stayed in she sent us on our way to the falls.  The park itself was immaculate and the falls indescribable.  It is impossible to find adequate words to truly portray the inherent beauty and majestic nature of these waterfalls.  The cataratas, or waterfalls, go on for as far as the eye can see and the immense power of each fall is truly breathtaking.   My words and the pictures I have taken simply cannot do this amazing creation of nature any justice.  We only stayed at Iguazu for one night so we made the most of our day there.  We spent the next morning at a bird park which was fun and quite interesting to be able to get so close to see the birds, I even had a parrot on my shoulder!

All in all it was a wonderful week and I was grateful for the time to actually get to see some other areas of Brazil.  Each time we were in a different location we would pass a school and it would remind me of the overriding purpose of this study abroad trip – still a little time for rest and relaxation was certainly much needed and deserved.

Education. Here or there. It's the same everywhere???

This afternoon we put on skits of various chapters from the text Flat Land.  It was interesting to note the interpretations my colleagues put on the message of each chapter and it was fascinating for me to watch Anna Maria’s face as each group performed.  She is such an animated woman and I often found myself wondering what her thoughts were about the messages we were conveying through our mostly mediocre acting!

Anna Maria also pulled out a Tupperware container full of blue sand, explaining that this could be used by young children to learn their letters without the stigma attached with getting something wrong and having it permanently etched on paper.  I genuinely liked this idea and would like to find ways to incorporate it into my own high school classroom, perhaps as a review game for a test or even as a way for students to demonstrate a difficult concept in a manner that would not single any one student out for being uncertain of the correct answer.

Another point made this afternoon with Anna Maria really resonated with me.  She stated quite simply that students learning about education in Brazil talk about the same things as we do in the United States.  While on some level I was aware of this, it was very enlightening for me to actually here these words spoken and to discuss some of the theories we have spent the past year and a half discussing at NC State.  In the end it does not matter what end of the earth we are coming from when it comes to educating our youth we all ultimately have the same objectives.  Perhaps the methods and ideas behind our best practices may vary, but overall we all understand that through education we can help our children obtain a better way of life and gain a greater appreciation for the world in which they live.  Certainly things about our education systems are different and it is important to focus on these things to see what is working and why and perhaps also to question why certain effective practices for one country may not be as effective in another country.  However, we can also find value in noting the similarities between our education systems.  These commonalities are a connection we share amongst ourselves that can bridge the huge gaps of differences common in a globally competitive society.

Second Day of School Visits in Brazil

Last Friday was spent visiting three different schools, having lunch at the home of one of the teachers and visiting the impressive Science Park.  What a day it was!  Words cannot aptly describe the amazing day I had nor the gratitude I felt to the many people that worked to make it happen.


  We started our day by visiting Tonya’s school.  Tonya was wonderful and truly went above and beyond to make sure I had the appropriate parent permission forms signed as well as helping to set up my interviews with the students for my wiki page.  The interviews with the students were wonderful, and I was pleased that for the most part they were able to understand the questions I was asking in stilted Portuguese.  The school was great and once again we were made to feel like rock stars as newspaper reporters followed us around snapping our pictures at two of the three schools. 

One of my favorite parts of the Tonya’s school was the bell, which sounded through the school like a stereo speaker and created an atmosphere of a giant dance party… who said school couldn’t be fun!  Once again massive amounts of food were prepared for us in the school kitchen and we enjoyed meeting other teachers at the school.  

After leaving the school Tonya took us to her home for lunch and her family was absolutely amazing!  Her mom prepared a FEAST for us and was possibly the warmest and most welcoming woman I have ever met.  It truly brought tears to my eyes to think about how she not only welcomed 8 strangers into her home but likely spent her entire morning preparing a gourmet lunch for us.  The house was lacking in many things we would consider necessities back home, such as a giant flat screen TV and granite countertops, but it was absolutely the most beautiful house I have ever been invited into.   You could feel the love and attention paid to each and every area of the home and the warmth with which we were welcomed can simply not be described with words.  This part of the trip meant so very much to me.

After lunch we visited two more schools, the first was a school for the disabled and special needs students and the second was a primary school.  This was an amazing experience as well; particularly the school for special needs students.  Each child was very well cared for and given an immense amount of love and affection, it truly was a wonderful thing to see.  The primary school was interesting, but I have to say that I truly am more comfortable around older children and this trip again reinforced for me my decision to teach high school aged students.

The last part of our day was spent visiting the Science Park which was incredibly amazing.  They actually stayed open late just for us and gave us a private tour of the facility!  They invited us into the planetarium to see the constellations that would have been seen by the indigenous tribes looking up at the stars hundreds of years ago, it was an out of this world experience.  The park itself was amazing and gave me so many ideas I would like to incorporate into my own classroom in some way in the future.  They had an area where students could go on an “archeological dig” for dinosaur bones, watch electricity in action, see the consumption of electricity throughout the world, participate in a G7 summit, and actually walk through a topographical map of the state of Parana. While the obvious application for most of these exhibits would be in the field of science, there were certainly ways they could be incorporated into a social studies classroom as well.

After arriving at home we went out for dinner and on the way home saw a group of capoeira students.  It was amazing to watch them and I immediately fell in love with this traditional Brazilian dance/martial art.  I have decided that my next adventure must be to explore this art of capoeira! It was a very long and tiring day, but rewarding in so many ways. 

Sebui Rainforest Trip

Our trip to the Sebui Rainforest this weekend was amazing, though I believe some of my companions may have had a rather rough time of it!

The trip there was long but not too bad, everyone is aware of my motion sickness in cars and buses so I was able to sit in the front seat for the hour long van ride to the port.  The ride through the mountains was gorgeous and we were able to travel through a part of Brazil that had been severely affected by the recent mudslides.  It was amazing to see where mud and water had completely taken out an entire concrete bridge and how the red stains of mud covered the streets.  It was quite impressive how quickly the cleanup effort was taking place.

After the van ride we took a 2 and a half hour ferry ride to another smaller boat which took us about a half hour into the private ecological reserve.  With us through this all was a man named Enzo, who I would come to find out, is the owner of this 500 acre private nature reserve (which he purchased 10 years ago for $50,000… amazing).  Enzo is Italian and quite the impressive man, and he obviously holds a bountiful appreciation of nature.  In addition, he is a huge advocate of supporting the locals and purchases all his supplies from his neighbors. 

As we arrived at the reserve we unloaded the boat and began our short 20-30 minute hike to the camp area.  The hike was incredibly muddy, almost swampy and marshy, but incredibly beautiful.  On the way to the camp we passed a small wooden hut which we were informed was the home of Jaoa, an older gentleman that lives on the reserve to help maintain it.  He would prove to be our entertainment in the evenings and guide during the day.  Our camp was small and basic, but incredibly charming. 

We hiked to a different waterfall each day and each was absolutely beautiful and all the more rewarding to see because of the often challenging hikes, which, due to the climate, were not like your typical hike.  Muddy and slippery each day of hiking proved to be a great adventure!  We were able to swim at each each of the waterfalls and the water was incredibly cold, but also refreshing especially on the second day when we had a slightly longer hike.  Most of our hikes were recorded by  a camera crew filming a documentary for the national news station about the reserve.  We were all a little unsure of how they would be portraying us and I decided to attempt to stay out of the camera’s lens as much as possible. 

The women in the kitchen, a mother and daughter, were amazing cooks and prepared delicious meals for us morning, noon and night.  One evening we had a traditional oyster bake which was quite an experience, even though I do not actually eat oysters myself.   Just getting the oysters was an adventure.  After canoeing through the mangroves, in the pouring rain I should add, we took a short boat ride to a locals house.  We pulled the boat right up to his house, he came out and waded out into the water, hoisted up a tin of oysters and brought them right to our boat.  This is a perfect example of how Enzo supports the locals!

On our final hike out of the rainforest on the last day we had to hike over killer ants, we were told to run over the ants.  There were so many ants it appeared as if the entire ground was moving.  It was a bit unnerving as we were told that under no circumstances should we stop, or the ants would simply overtake our body.  It was a pretty intense experience!

All in all it was a wonderful trip.  I felt that I bonded with many of the girls on the trip and had an opportunity to see the Atlantic rainforest which is said to have the greatest ecological biodiversity in the world.  It was truly an experience that will remain with me for the rest of my life.

Our First School in Brazil

What an eventful day this has turned out to be.  Our group traveled about 45 minutes by bus to visit our first public school in Brazil.  The school was located in Colombo, just outside of Curitiba and was staffed by the friendliest and most enthusiastic professoras any one school could possibly wish for.  I was impressed by their passion for teaching and the genuine excitement they expressed at meeting us American teachers.  We received the warmest welcome one could imagine with cappuccinos, coffee, cakes, crackers, dips and jams.  We of course had a bit of a language barrier, but it was overcome as Anna Maria translated for us and we began to learn about what made this specific school so unique.

I found it fascinating to learn that the school had a groundskeeper that
stayed on the school property 24 hours a day 7 days a week and continually remained available for the students.  I think this shows an amazing dedication to not just education, but also to the welfare of the children themselves.  I truly got the impression that students were not merely a test score to these passionate teachers, as unfortunately can often become the case in the US.  Rather these students were genuinely known and cared about.  We also discussed the large class sizes.  At 40-45 students in each class I can imagine the added difficulty this may bring about for teachers, in addition to having varying morning, afternoon and evening teaching shifts. 

I believe the best and most fulfilling part of the day, and quite possibly this trip, was meeting and working with the students.  At first timid, the students gradually came out of their shells as curiosity overcame their shyness and they began to ask the questions they had prepared for us in English.  The three students in the group I joined were quite a joy to work with and their inquisitiveness was impressive.  They were patient with my mistakes and working together we found ways to communicate in a mixture of my limited Portuguese, their limited English, and lots of hand gestures and movements. 

Throughout the day we were continually informed of how important our presence was to both the school and the students.  I of course a first took this to merely be a nicety said to makes us foreigners feel more comfortable and as if we mattered.  However, as we were saying goodbye and the students came up individually to hug us goodbye I realized that our presence in fact was incredibly important.  Not that I believe we made a difference to the lives of those children in the 50 minutes we spent with them, but perhaps we have opened their eyes to the differences that exist between two cultures and perhaps more importantly to the similarities between us.  If nothing else I hope that our visiting their school will ignite an even greater curiosity for learning, particularly about other cultures.

As for me, the easily moved individual that I am, I was incredibly touched as we walked out of that classroom.  Once again my desire to be a teacher was reaffirmed, but on a whole different level.  I was once again shown that education is not merely a classroom and a textbook nor is it simply a teacher and her students.  Education is the desire to learn and the desire to be understood.  It is a curiosity which can never be quenched and a desire to discover new ways of thinking.  This type of education is never more apparent than when two very different people, cultures, and/or countries communicate with one another.  I left that middle school today feeling as if I had perhaps learned more than the students and was grateful to them for being my teachers. 

Arrival in Brazil

3/27/2011

We arrived in Brazil yesterday.  Traveling is always such an experience, no matter where the final destination may be.  It stretches you and tests you in ways that no other experience can.  It is impossible to hide your flaws or be someone you are not when traveling, and it is often during traveling when you will see someone at their worst. 

This traveling experience was no exception.  Due to a fire at the Miami International Airport our flight schedule underwent significant changes… and only after much haggling on the part of Katy a fellow student studying abroad with us.  So my flight ended up being much earlier than expected, took me to a different airport than I had planned, and called for me transferring from that airport to another in order to catch my next flight.  On the long 10 hour flight I endured a hearty nose bleed and a mild case of food poisoning as well as a young boy whose mother apparently did not teach him to appropriate way to cover his nose and mouth when sneezing.  Dios Mio!  Once we finally arrived in Sao Paulo we waited two hours in customs only to have to run to catch our final flight.  At long last we arrived in Curitiba, and sat down to wait for our pre-arranged transportation.  After waiting a nice solid two hours for the van, we came to the conclusion that we should probably start trying to figure out another way to get to our hotel. 

An intense conversation of stilted Portuguese, Spanish and English and R$8 (Reias)  later, we are on a bus to our hotel. 

This was all yesterday, and though I wouldn’t be saying this if you had asked me yesterday… all in all, the trip went pretty well.  I was certainly glad that there was a group of us traveling; it can make all the difference when you don’t know the language, are faced with difficult situations and sometimes just need a little comic relief. 

Today we were able to explore Curitiba, and what a beautiful city it is.  Our hotel is located on Rua XV de Novembro, a beautiful stone pebbled pedestrian street filled with stores, restaurants and vendors.  We started our morning at the market that takes place every Sunday morning very close to our hotel.  The first thing I noticed about the market was how the vendors did not attack you as you walked by as they do in most other countries I have visited.  Everyone merely says “oi” or “bom dia” and continues on with their business.  I was also impressed with the vastness of the market.  Row after row of boomerangs, clothing, cooking utensils, spices, honey, trinkets and jewelry sit on long tables glistening under the hot sun.  I note the many presents I will have to come back to purchase in the upcoming weeks for family and friends. 

Brazilians have greatly impressed me with their friendliness and eagerness to communicate with us both to learn about our country and to practice their English.  While by no means a prevalent second language, I have been impressed by the number of people who do speak some English and their eagerness to help us learn their own language. 

Tonight after our very touristy bus tour, we stopped at a local corner bar to grab a beer and a bite to eat.  A local, who has been learning English for work, shyly leaned over to our table and recommended the papas fritas and Antartica beer.  We thanked him and ordered up.  Upon receiving a very good beer for each of us and the best French fries I have had in a long time we asked him to join us at our table.  He then spent the next hour and a half patiently teaching us about futbol and how to say different terms in Portuguese.  We all laughed at each other’s mistakes with the language and he spent twenty minutes helping us figure out how we were supposed to pay.  He was a wonderful man and provided us a terrific introduction to his home city Curitiba.

While I miss my husband and family immensely Brazil is looking to be an amazing country and I am looking forward to my adventures here over the next several weeks!

Boa noite!

The Importance of Saying Thank You to Teachers

I have officially finished my student teaching in North Carolina and it has left me with an incredibly bittersweet feeling.  I am so very excited for my upcoming trip to Brazil and am looking forward to everything in store for me there, yet I truly will miss my students who were all so very wonderful.  I am also becoming increasingly stressed about finding a job upon returning from my study abroad trip.

The constant barrage in the news of the “dire state of our education system” has left me feeling vaguely discouraged.  I am so very excited about becoming a teacher and enjoying what I have long considered to be the main benefit of teaching, and indeed the main reason I chose to pursue teaching as a career: the sense of fulfillment it provides to know that I am doing something meaningful and worthwhile with my life.  So many of the debates about education today focus on the negative aspects of the profession and those in the field, while losing sight of what makes education and educators such a unique bunch. By no means are all teachers wonderful teachers, but on the opposite end of the coin neither are all teachers bad.  In fact, I believe that most teachers probably have good days and bad days. 

Our education system certainly needs a change, which is part of what this study abroad in Brazil is all about.  By studying what other countries are doing to improve their education systems, we can perhaps adapt their ideas to meet our own needs and unique situations. 

However, we must also consider how our national conversation about teachers and education is affecting the desirability of teaching as a profession.  In order to ensure that individuals continue to choose teaching as an occupation we must remember to thank our teachers, tell them when they are doing a good job and help them do better when they are not meeting standards. 

Throughout my MAT program I have continuously learned about the importance of providing a positive model for students and of giving multiple positive remarks for every criticism handed down.  It has been found that this is the best way to keep students engaged with the material and striving to achieve beyond previous limits.  Yet our current education system lacks both positive models and positive feedback for teachers.  We must take this same advice given to MAT students and apply it to the treatment of teachers as we strive to better the profession. 

I have repeatedly mentioned on this blog the solitary nature of teaching.  Because no superiors, colleagues or peers see teachers working, compliments and positive feedback are few and far between.  In fact it is typically only given once a month to a handful of teachers at the faculty meeting.  (And I am saying this as a student teacher who has a cooperating teacher present in the classroom at all times and am continuosly provided feedback). Just this past week the teachers at the school I am placed in were required to go spend their planning period in another teacher’s classroom.  What a wonderful idea!  This idea has certainly been proposed before, but it is nice to actually see it being done.  Now if we could only incorporate this at all the schools on a regular basis.  How much we, as teachers, could learn from what our colleagues are doing just across the hall. 

From only a few months in the classroom I can attest to the often thankless nature of the job.   Those who do see the teacher working every day, the students, often at the time do not appreciate all the teacher does for them, particularly at the high school level. It is for these reasons that it becomes necessary for everyone: government, parents, communities and society at large to offer some positive feedback to teachers, to thank them for all that they do.  Certainly teachers must continue to receive constructive criticism, this is the only way to grow and develop as an educator.  However, teachers must also be reminded of why they chose to become a teacher in the first place, to know that they are appreciated and to continue to believe that what they are doing with their lives is meaningful and worthwhile.

My Teacher List

While I certainly do not have the insight of the millions of veteran teachers that have been in this profession for 10, 20 and 30 + years, I have discovered several things over the past two months student teaching.

A teacher must have:

·         

•     Tough skin
•          A sense of humor
•          An ability to laugh at oneself
•          An ability to say “I don’t know”
•          A willingness to help
•          A willingness to learn
•          A love of learning
•          A variety of “quick to eat” snacks
•          An ability to go many hours without using the restroom (this one is very hard for me)
•          A love of “teacher supplies”
•          An ability to bite one’s tongue
•          An appreciation of diversity and student’s prior knowledge
•          An acknowledgement that as a teacher, you often have no idea what each student is dealing with at home and in their personal lives
•          An ability to hide bad moods
•          Open-mindedness
•          Willingness to try new things
•          A positive outlook and ability to have fun
•          A 25 hour day
•          Unlimited copying privileges
•          Willingness to take criticism
•          Knowledge that you can’t please everyone
•          Knowledge that you may not always be loved
•     Knowledge that not always being loved is not necessarily a bad thing
•         An ability to explain why you are doing something
•     An ability to explain why you are making your students do something
•         Being an amazing actress (or actor)
•          A love of the subject you teach
•          A love of teenagers, and the wacky questions they will undoubtedly come up with
•          A genuine interest in the lives of students -- their non-academic interests and activities
•          Organization, organization, organization!
•          Planning, planning, planning!
•          Ability to be flexible and change plans at a moment’s notice
•          Ability to work in solitude… even when surrounded by students all day
•          Ability to handle a lot of paperwork
•          Creativity
•     An ability to say “No”
•          Negotiation Skills
•          Problem-solving skills
•       Ability to communicate with indifferent, irate and/or uncompromising parents
•          Knowledge of Justin Bieber, American Idol, Glee, Facebook and any other current trend of the moment
•          Unlimited energy… coffee helps – except for the need for bathroom breaks that it creates
•          Willingness to learn from students, they often have a great deal of knowledge to share
•          Ability to find the good qualities in each and every student that walks through the classroom door

I am certain that this list will expand as I gain more experience in the classroom, but I would say I have learned quite a bit in the past two months.  

More next week!

The Halfway Point

Wednesday of this week was the halfway point for my student teaching time in North Carolina.  It is amazing to think how quickly these past few weeks have flown by and how much I have learned in such a short period of time. 

Each day, as I look at the group of kids I have, I find myself feeling incredibly grateful.  I love each one of them so very much and am truly going to miss them when I leave next month.  I often wonder if I will find myself at a disadvantage next year when I get my own classroom because I will not have experienced a disruptive classroom environment during my time student teaching.  It will be a new challenge for me when I am finally faced with a serious classroom management issue. 

I, at the moment, am still abiding by my belief that if you respect the students they in turn will respect you.

My trip to Brazil is rapidly approaching and I am becoming increasingly excited and stressed.  There seems to be so much to take care of, from filling out job applications before I leave to getting the appropriate vaccinations, all while being sure to stay on top of my lesson plans and grading.  I suppose if I can make it through my semester student teaching I can make it through just about anything!

I am looking forward to meeting my “Brazilian Buddy” as our study abroad group has labeled them.  This is a student teacher in Brazil that I will be paired with for the duration of my stay.  I will have the opportunity to follow him or her throughout the various schools in Curitiba and together we will produce a final comparative analysis of the Brazilian and American education systems.  It will be an interesting challenge to produce an academic paper with another individual whom may or may not speak any English!

More next week, Adeus!

Exploring the Cultural Differences between Brazil and the United States

Geert Hofstede states that, “culture is more often a source of conflict than of synergy.”  He is talking about the cultural variations that exist throughout the world, and the impact that these cultural differences can have on our interactions, business or otherwise.  Specifically, Hofstede explores five cultural dimensions: Power Distance Index, Individualism, Masculinity, Uncertainty Avoidance Index, and Long Term Orientation. 

Here are the results of Hofstede’s research regarding the United States and Brazil:

It is important when visiting any new place, to be aware of cultural differences, particularly when working there.  According to Hofstede, the power distance index, or “ the extent to which the less powerful members of organizations and institutions (like the family) accept and expect that power is distributed unequally” is much higher in Brazil than in the United States.  This does not surprise me too much as I am aware of the huge inequalities between the upper and lower classes in Brazil.  Individuality also was not too surprising as everyone is well aware of the United States being a highly individualistic society and most Latin American cultures being more collectivist in orientation.  Though, it is interesting to note that Brazil's individuality score is much higher than most other Latin American countries.

I did find the results for the final three cultural dimensions: masculinity, uncertainty avoidance index and long term orientation, to be slightly more surprising.

A description of all five cultural dimensions can be found on Hofstede’s website here:

I was not surprised by the designation of the United States as a masculine society as much as I was surprised by Brazil’s characterization of being less so.  I had in my mind a stereotype of the typical machismo Latino man and a woman tied to typical female gender roles.  I was also surprised that the US is considered lower in the Uncertainty Avoidance Index because we do tend to adhere to strict rules and laws, I had thought more than in a country such as Brazil.  I had long considered Latin American countries to embrace uncertainty and to “go with the flow” however, according to Hofstede’s research Brazil is a country that is very risk adverse and strives to control everything in order to eliminate the unexpected.  The results of the final cultural dimension of long term orientation did not surprise me for the United States though it did for Brazil.  However, after doing more research into the country, particularly Curitiba, I can see where the country would be considered high in thrift and perseverance.

I have found exploring these cultural dimensions to be immensely helpful in preparing me for my time in Brazil both in knowing what to expect and in being prepared to work with my Brazilian colleagues.

I believe these cultural dimensions can be useful in the classroom as well.  Our global society demands that students understand the complexities involved in cultural interactions and understand the sort of challenges that can arise in dealing with members of a society culturally different from their own.  I believe it is also valuable for high school students to be aware that there are resources, such as Hofstede’s research into various cultural dimensions, that can be used to gain an understanding and appreciation of the differences across various cultures.

Week Four: Let the Teaching Begin!

I just completed my first week of teaching, and what a learning experience it was!  Statistically I would say the week went pretty well: two awesome days, one average day and one horrible day (and one teacher workday).  So by the law of averages, I guess I will count my first week of teaching as a success.

The most important lesson learned:  every day is different.  This is one of the reasons I chose to pursue teaching as a career.  I tend to get bored easily and enjoy never knowing what to expect… and you certainly never know what to expect with 30 teenagers in a room.  From this I have also learned that one day a student will love you and the next they may hate you.  However, the teacher’s job is not to be a friend, but to teach.  I would of course love to be a friend that teaches, but am gradually recognizing the limits of being a friend to my students and the roles that I often may have to fill which will typically result in some students wishing I just hadn’t shown up that morning…

“You mean we have to write all that down?”

“Yes, you have to write all that down.”

Ultimately my goal is to have the respect of my students and to challenge them to grow academically and as individuals.  I am discovering however, that students often fight being challenged.  They often demonstrate fear of being wrong and don't believe they possess adequate knowledge, even though they often do.  My challenge and that of teachers everywhere, is to help students see that they can accomplish challenging tasks if they put in the effort and are willing to accept help.  In this one week alone I have seen several students get frustrated when I would not give them the answer to a question outright, when they were asked to think a question through and develop their own solutions.  Yet, when the light goes on and you can see understanding light up behind their eyes there is no better feeling.

I have also discovered this past week, the hard way, that I cannot please everyone all the time -- a life lesson if there ever was one!  At the conclusion of class on Friday I asked the students to provide me with anonymous feedback regarding my teaching and to note the various elements of the lessons they liked and disliked.  For every student that said they hated the group work, another would ask for more; and while many complained about taking notes, several mentioned that they actually LIKED taking notes.  This clearly illustrated for me a lesson stressed throughout my master’s program: the importance and necessity of teaching through a variety of methods.  While I want all of my students to have fun while learning and to be actively engaged through the entire class period, everyone learns differently.  Turns out Howard Gardener has a point.  I think that I did a fairly good job providing the material in different forms and geared to different learners, but will strive over these next few weeks to continue finding creative ways to teach to different learning styles.

I would have to say the best moment of the week was Friday before the start of second period.  As the students streamed in before the minute bell rang, several students stopped to tell me news about various aspects of their day.  One had received a bad mark on her report card and wanted to vent, another was excited to share her acceptance into a prestigious extracurricular program, and one just wanted to let me know that she knew I had missed her yesterday when she was absent.  It was at this moment that I knew for sure that I am going to love being a teacher!

Week 3 - Discovering Challenges

Well this week has certainly been full of edifying experiences.  The entire week was dedicated to exams, with Thursday and Friday reserved specifically for make-up exams.  Thus, there was not too much interaction with students this week.

I managed to get a firm grasp on the use of the copy machine and for the first time used the Scantron grader… I got cheers from the waiting teachers after my successful use of the ancient machine!  Ah…use of copiers and Scantron graders,  both very important skills for a teacher to have and experiences I am glad to have under my belt before the beginning of the next semester.

I have over this past week discovered the solitary nature of the teaching profession.  Though I am of course in the classroom with my cooperating teacher all day long, I do not very often see other teachers.  It is necessary, if the high school teacher desires any adult interaction, to step into another classroom and make that concerted effort.  I could see this being a challenge for me in the future as I am often apt to get lost in my work and lose track of time.  When I get my own classroom I will have to make a conscious effort to interact with fellow teachers throughout the day.

While I have been warmly welcomed by my cooperating teacher, administrators and teachers in other departments, I have found it difficult to truly make any connections with fellow teachers within my own department.  I am finding this difficult to accept, as I generally feel that people respond and open up to me very quickly.  I acknowledge that, with EOC exams and a new upcoming semester, this is a stressful period for teachers and that as a student teacher I am likely viewed as someone that is merely passing through; yet I really want to fit in with the teachers and become a part of the team.  This has been a challenge for me over the past week.

I have always felt that food is an excellent way to warm people up to you, so I brought Krispy Kreme doughnuts in for the department teachers on Friday.  The department chair made it a point to come down to the room and ask my name -- no longer am I so-and-so's student teacher!

Lesson Learned:  Yet again, food proves to be the best way to people’s hearts!

The new semester begins on Tuesday which leaves me with a mixture of emotions.  I am very excited to finally have the opportunity to teach.  Aside from the one lesson I taught last semester, I have not yet had any actual teaching time.  Therefore, as one might guess, there is a certain degree of apprehension in my household this weekend.

Fear of failure is always present for me, yet it is this same fear that encourages me to strive for success.  I do believe that over the past three weeks my mind has covered most probable worst-case-scenarios and I have adequately prepared for them.  Classroom management is the main concern.  Though I do have a Classroom Management Plan in place, this plan is only theoretical as I have never actually put it into practice before.  One can never tell how they will react when an actual situation arises.  Therefore, I can only say that I shall keep you updated on my classroom management strategy!

Wish me luck… Tuesday is the big day!

Week 2 – HELLO EOC’s

Week two of student teaching is coming to a close.  As I sit here typing, the clatter of the keyboard echoes through the open door and down the empty hallway.  This week I saw my first snow day, my first illness as a teacher, and the EOC exams.  Luckily for me the illness and snow day landed on the same day!  Thursday and Friday were spent proctoring exams…. quite the experience!  The long hours of watching students bubble in answers were daunting.  I can’t help but think that four hours to sit in a room taking one test is an unbearable burden for a sixteen year old adolescent.  Yet, the majority of students finished well in advance and one ingenious young girl pulled out her pillow and managed to take a nap I was envious of. 

Portuguese lessons are continuing... what a mentally arduous process learning a new language is.  This is a task every teacher should undertake so as to allow them a greater understanding of the challenges their own ESL students face on a daily basis.

Continuing with my lesson plans this weekend, as well as working on my Portuguese - and enjoying my Monday off!

More next week – Ciao!

The Necessity of Globally Competent Teachers

Why is it important for you to become a "Global Educator"? What is your personal definition of "Global Competence"?

After reading Teacher Preparation in the Global Age, I can readily assert that I believe it is imperative to become a global educator.  As I enter the classroom, I am faced with the task of preparing students for a world in which all facets of our society are interwoven with that of innumerable other countries.  As the Ameri-centric perspective becomes more entwined with non-Western views, it is essential that students have a firm understanding of cultural, economic and governmental variances and their societal impacts.  In addition, a global educator must encourage growth within students of open-mindedness and empathy.  These are two essential characteristics which will set apart the globally educated student from the student merely taught to pass an End-of-Course Exam. 

The goal of educators must be to develop globally competent students.  Global competence is the inherent appreciation of diversity, thirst for knowledge and understanding of other cultures and an acknowledgement that different does not necessarily mean “good” or “bad,” “right” or “wrong.”  I hope that as a global educator I can impart to all my students the understanding that there are multiple ways of viewing any situation and that more often than not no one correct viewpoint exists, merely different opinions held to be truths in the eyes of the beholder.  Global competence is the understanding that differences are acceptable and in fact can be beneficial to societies worldwide.  I hope that my students will demonstrate an indelible appreciation of diversity and the desire to explore other cultures.  

In order to impart these qualities to our students and expand their repertoire of skills, it is first necessary for the teacher to possess these qualities and skills.  Therefore a global educator must epitomize the globally competent citizen and clearly demonstrate the importance of this to students. The global educator makes it a priority to gain pertinent knowledge in their field on a global scale, incorporating it into daily lessons and discussions. Students will appreciate the relevancy and novelty of such knowledge. 

The First Week

I have arrived… the successful completion of my first week of student teaching!  I had assumed I would be tired… yet the word tired does not adequately express the level of exhaustion that overwhelmed me by Wednesday afternoon.  However, I am happy to say that it has been a happy and satisfied sort of exhaustion.  Each night as I fall into bed by 9pm, no longer the elusive night owl, I am slightly caught off guard by the smile that plays over my lips.  I am actually looking forward to going back for more in the morning! 

This first week consisted of more observation hours, a faculty meeting, a proctoring lesson and time to work on lesson plans.  I have found the process of gradually easing myself into the classroom to be helpful and have found it useful in acclimating me to my new schedule.

The drama of high school is immediately apparent to me and I am once again amazed by the intense emotional state of the adolescent mind.  Likewise, I am impressed by the amiability of these young adults.  Through my teacher preparation program I have been trained to teach -- to use engaging and innovative pedagogical methods while adhering to the latest research on classroom behavioral management.  Yet, I was never truly trained on how to interact with a teenager!  I am happy to say however, that it seems to be coming quite naturally and these students actually make the day enjoyable.  I have noticed that when one-on-one with the students they are more often than not incredibly respectful and are often extremely eager to share their thoughts and life stories with teachers. 

Tuesday afternoon was the first time a student called me by name in the hallway.  What a heady and exhilarating feeling.  I enjoyed my first week student teaching immensely and am looking forward to what next week has in store! 

Oh, and wishing for no snow next week, have to get these hours in before Brazil!