Anyone who has ever taught knows that you learn as much from students as they do from you.
Yesterday, I had the opportunity to learn from ninth grade students and university students. One section of ninth grade students presented on juices of different regions of Colombia. Like yesterday, students had beautifully decorated stations and samples. The goal of this opportunity was for students to research the juices and the present the information and ask questions in English. The students were understandably a bit nervous, but they did a great job.
The second section of ninth graders were set up in stations to present a real estate agency. Each group had people who were looking to by a home and those who were selling. There were brakes throughout this activity for students to do gymnastics, magic tricks, and other fun talents. This activity gave students to practice their English skills, practice business etiquette, and showcase their talents.
After a brief but productive shopping trip, Jenny and I met with a class of students studying English at Universidad Industrial de Santander. We were asked to discuss the educational system in the United States. In our discussion with the students, we learned that public universities were considered better than private ones. I found that interesting because I have often wondered how much of what we think about colleges and universities are based on fact and how much on perception. The students then presented on different parts of Colombia using PowerPoint. Jenny and I were asked to provide input on the students' use of English.
Learning definitely went both ways. I offered pointers and gentle encouragement during students presentations which I hope were helpful. I learned about the juices and cultures of Colombia but also a great deal about the talents, hopes, and goals of some amazing students.
