MIRANDA
Grade 1 Teacher |
MIRANDA
Grade 1 Teacher |
If I knew someone who was considering traveling or studying abroad but was nervous about what the experience would be like, I would tell them to absolutely take the leap, or flight(:
Traveling can be stressful/nerve wracking so it is important to do your research and be prepared with a contingency plan. That could include having a support system at home that you can reach out to in order to discuss experiences and feelings; or if possible, travel with a friend or family member. I find that it is always easier to embark on adventures with a friend by your side, though there is something to be said for the thrill of solo traveling, if you’re comfortable! It also includes doing your research on the area you plan to travel to. Try to get familiar with their customs and traditions, a map of the area you’ll be staying in, and how to best use their transportation systems. I believe the most important thing to remember is to give yourself grace. Traveling can be incredibly rewarding, however, to step outside of typical life can be uncomfortable, but it is also necessary to grow. If you are brave enough to step out of the norm, you can handle anything the adventure throws your way. I would also note to them that there is a distinct difference between traveling to a touristy area and finding more local places to spend your time. Tourist areas may be more comfortable, but the local communities are where the true culture of a place is experienced. That is also how you can meet possible life-long friends. I have met some of the most wonderful people by traveling and meeting new people. Traveling is vital to help shape perceptions of the world that are different from what is shown in the media and in cinema. Personally, I believe it brings us all together. I feel very fortunate to have been able to experience as much as I have traveling as often as I have. As humans we have the same problems, but more importantly, we have the same hopes and dreams. Traveling helps us experience more of the things that bring us together. I am gratified that I was able to have this experience; I have made lifelong memories and friendships. -Miranda
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I am grateful for this experience in a variety of ways, especially how it has given me a renewed respect for ENL students and their experiences. Here, I am the linguistic minority and it is difficult to be the linguistic minority in an environment as an adult, so I can only imagine it must be that much more overwhelming for a child. It is almost tiring to listen to a different language all day. Your brain is trying to make sense of any possible context clues of words you may know or get the gist of, and you get a heightened sense of body language/facial expressions because you don’t always know what is being said. For me, I am constantly trying to be aware of my expression so it isn’t misconstrued in response to what is being said around me.
If I have a class with ENL students I will keep this experience in mind. I have seen classroom materials labeled in English and then in the home language(s) of the student; I think this is a great practice to give them an opportunity to be independent instead of having to ask for materials. Additionally, doing research on the cultural background of the student to get familiar with any differences that might be confusing for them. According to their comfort level I would encourage students to ask about their culture and share information about their own cultures so that everyone feels celebrated and included. In my classroom, I want all of my students to feel like part of our class family. This past weekend, the German teachers planned a lovely weekend for us at Lake Titisee, which is near the border of Switzerland, Italy, Germany and France! It was beautiful there, the drive into the area was filled with scenic forests, fields, houses, and many cows.
We arrived Friday evening, and split into two groups, the first group went to the Freiburg Wine Festival, and the second group stayed at one of our gracious hosts’ flat and played games. It was a fun night full of wine and laughter. On Saturday, we went to the lake and laid in the sun, chatted, attempted paddle boarding (it is MUCH harder than it looks, at least for me!) and enjoyed being together. Saturday evening, some of the group who hadn’t attended the wine festival attended and the rest stayed back. I attended the wine festival on Saturday night. It was much more than I expected! Freiburg is a beautiful city, with little streams of water that flow through the streets in gorgeous brick gutters. One of the girls told us that it’s said if you accidentally trip into one of the streams then you have to marry someone from Freiburg. (My husband would be pleased to see how carefully I walked;) It was very crowded, there were people from all walks of life, and it was joyful to see them all enjoying the festival. We drank delicious wine, danced, and ate some festival food. It was a very fun evening! In the morning, everyone gathered at Fiona and Victor’s apartment for a delicious breakfast. It was a very needed, relaxing weekend. As we approach the beginning of our final week, I am feeling a mix of emotions. I am excited to go home and see my husband, and get back into the routine of my normal life. I am feeling grateful to have had this experience, it has been wonderful. I am feeling sad that the adventure is coming to an end. Here’s to a wonderful final week! :) -Miranda I have been settling into life in Germany very well. I am extremely lucky to have a wonderful host teacher in Louisa, and a wonderful host family to live. It is also nice to be staying in one place for a little longer, and getting a routine.
So far, I have really enjoyed being a part of the school day here. It is similar and different to what I am used to, and nice to be back in a classroom after a week-long break. The teachers and students have all been very welcoming. Louisa has been very patient with my endless questions, of which I am very appreciative. I have been a part of several third grade English lessons; introducing myself and explaining American Independence Day (Fourth of July) to third grade students. It was interesting to hear their questions about American life back then and now. It was hard for me to remember to talk slowly, since I am used to fast talking Americans, and even though these students are new to learning English some of them did understand the gist of what I was saying. Louisa would then ask if anyone understood what I was saying, and then translate in German. Wednesday I was able to visit a 6th grade English class, and it was easier for them to understand me since they are farther in their English language studies. The teacher was able to take pictures from my introductory presentation and the students were able to describe them in the present progressive. After they said some describing sentences, I would explain to them the context of the picture. They were very engaged, especially when I was explaining the relevance of Lewiston to the Underground Railroad. I like how many breaks students get here, it seems to help them focus. Although it is close to the end of the year for them so there is typical rowdiness that is expected towards the end of the year. I also like how the classrooms are full of windows and that they typically keep them open and there is lots of fresh air filtering into the room. I am enjoying experiencing their schools. -Miranda Whoo-hoo! We have had a wonderful week exploring parts of Switzerland, France, and Germany.
Before we made the journey to Strasbourg, France, we stopped and visited some Ancient Roman ruins and a castle where the foundations were built in the fourth century. It is really incredible to see what humans were capable of back then and compare it to what we can do now. It also makes one feel incredibly inconsequential because it is quite possible that nothing we do in our lifetime will be so lasting. During our time in Strasbourg there were protests against police violence/brutality. It was an odd feeling experiencing something like that so far from home, though, it did spark a feeling of solidarity because we also protest for the same reason. It is eye opening to know that even though we are on opposite sides of the ocean, we are facing the same systemic problems. After leaving Strasbourg, we visited Struthof, a concentration camp that was built in occupied France. Though Struthof wasn’t an extermination camp, the victims there died from intense physical labor, malnutrition, torturous beatings, and medical experiments. Victims of Struthof varied from political prisoners, homosexuals, Jewish people, and resistance fighters. The conditions which they were forced to endure were beyond inhumane, and there aren’t words to adequately describe how heartbreaking it was to learn and see more in depth the ways they suffered. It is devastating to believe that humans could treat one another that way, and especially in the tumultuous times we are living in, it is vital to remember that there is more that we have in common than sets us apart. We then continued to an open-air museum in the Black Forest in Germany. It is an incredibly beautiful area; and amazing to see the ways that people innovated to survive hundreds of years ago. The luxuries that we take for granted today, were their most precious possessions. Finally, we arrived in the scenic town of Zell, Germany. Here we have begun to experience true German culture. Here is also where I personally have been most adventurous in eating. The first evening I tried ox tongue, which was delicious and almost reminded me of pork chops. We also enjoyed walking through the town of Zell and swimming in the hotel pool. It has been nice to have a few more days to bond before we go our separate ways to our respective host families in the area of Stutgartt, Germany. Today we are going to meet with our host teachers and families! I am looking forward to staying in one place for a little longer than we have been lately. Also, taking a deeper dive into day-to-day German culture! -Miranda Tonight is our last night in Switzerland. I am excited to move on to France, but I have really loved my experience here. Switzerland is an absolutely gorgeous place, with friendly people, and great food. We have seen two schools that are both very different from each other, and schools in America.
Our first school was a forest school, where students literally hike to the forest and learn from the forest. It was so different from anything I’ve ever seen before in an educational setting. The students transitioned with music, and were free to explore play, the environment, and through each other. I think that it is a beautiful way for Pre-K aged children to begin to view the world. I wish more people were taught to appreciate nature at a young age, and to learn from it. To break bread, sing, and dance with them was an experience that I’ll never forget. The next school was a public school in Switzerland, and I cannot believe how open it was. We walked right in without having to show any ID or credentials, and for an American teacher who is used to locked doors and lockdown drills it was almost jarring. It made me feel very safe, peaceful, and also sad for students in America that they don’t get to experience that comfortable school setting. I also loved how many windows there were and how it didn’t feel closed off to nature or the rest of the world. Students go to school from 7:30-12, I believe, and are able to ride their bikes to and from school. We learned that their playground was created with input from the students and it was wonderful to see. There were many places for students to congregate together. I also thought that it was interesting to see a space without classrooms for teachers to work in. As much as I enjoy having my own classroom space to work in, it would be nice to have a space to collaborate with peers more often. So far, this has been a wonderful experience and I am looking forward to our next adventure! -Miranda In just a few hours we will begin our exciting journey. I am feeling both anxious and excited for this trip! I am thrilled to be going to two countries I’ve never been to before, Switzerland and Germany. They are both countries that I have been wanting to visit! I am also excited to travel back to France and see what it’s like outside of Paris. I love experiencing the culture of new places and noticing how similar and different it is from what I’m used to.
I am feeling anxious because yesterday was the close of the 2022-2023 school year with my first graders, and it feels like time is flying by as I try to make sure I ticked all the boxes packing up my classroom for the end of the year and my suitcase for this new adventure! I am also anxious because these next three weeks will be the longest I’ve spent away from my husband, Andrew. He is my best friend and it will be an adjustment to not be able to immediately share all of my new experiences with him. I am happy that I will be able to use this space to reflect on my experiences, and share them with anyone who is reading along! -Miranda PS. This post is late due to technical difficulties! Thanks for following along! |