I've become recently aware that quite a few people actually read this thing. So I'd like to say a big thanks to everyone. It really is nice to know that people are genuinly interested in what I'm doing over here. So for you I will try to keep this thing more up to date. And don't be afraid to leave a comment. I really do love to read them. I've just updated my previous blog about the teacher's taller below. So check it out.
Your pal,
Al
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Some more random pics
This is my English conversation class on their last day of class. They were the most advanced students at the Language Institute I teach at. I was really impressed with a few of them. I think at least one of the students English could rival my Spanish! (which is not saying much for me!) All of them passed their final exams, although there were a few that really should´t have. There´s a lot of pressure to pass students (especially when they are paying for the classes!), but I was proud of them all the same. Though sometimes a bit of a pain in the ass, they really are a great group of kids. I miss them already!
This is Pepino (aka Pepi) and the new puppy Pirata (pirate). Turns out Pepi is a boy after all. I swear I have the worst record sexing kittens. I already have a boy named Ginger and a girl named Hobbes. It´s hard to tell sometimes! Luckily Pepina could be easily changed to Pepino. Pepino means cucumber in español by the way. When he´s not tearing apart my room, attacking my face in my sleep and pooping out worms, he can be a real delight.More to come...
Finally my Environmental Education Taller!
Finally!! After months of postponements and frustrations I finally had my first environmental ed. teacher's taller! First it was delayed at the last minute (like the day before it was originally scheduled!) because the alcaldia wouldn't give me money to pay for it (after they said they would, of course) then the second time because of teacher's strikes.
The second time around I was able to get funds through the German organization GTZ which I've talked about previously on here (actually, a month later I still haven't been reimbursed, but that's another story I suppose). Anyways, they are the organization that originally donated the Maletines to me. The maletin (briefcase) is a boxed set of four really great educational text books all about environmental ed. in the Chaco. The main purpose of the taller was simply to get these materials to local teacher's so they can use them in their classrooms because as I've said before teacher's are given pathetically few teaching resources here. And the secondary objectives where to learn new dynamic methodologies to teach EE, create and present EE themed lessons, and discuss the environmental problems of the Chaco region.
In all there where 25 teachers who attended with many more wanting to, but unfortunately I only had a certain number of maletines to give away. I had previously worked with almost all of them before so I was a lot more comfortable presenting my portion of the workshop than I think I would have been otherwise. I purposely set up the workshop for the teachers of the two schools I work a lot with specifically for that reason. I figured they already knew my level of Spanish and what to expect of me, more or less, so I didn't get too nervous about it.
Of course there are always a few slackers in every group, but overall I was really pleased with every bodies participation. Five of the participants were actually my housemates and I was pleasantly surprised to see them working on their presentations for the last day of the workshop during lunch at the house! It was a touching moment for me. You could tell that some of the groups really had put a lot of thought into their presentations. It was really nice to hear how "bonito" the workshop was from many of the teachers and how they were surprised that almost everyone had stayed till the last minute, which usually doesn't happen at these kind of things here. So I guess you could say it was a success. Vale la pena! (worth the trouble)
Roxanna (in the dark brown jacket) is actually my host sister and Acelia (in the red) rents a room upstairs next to mine.
I think Norma (on the left above) is my favorite teacher here. She was one of the first I worked with and has always been really enthusiastic about having me in her classroom and incorporating more EE into her classes. She actually comes up with themes she wants me to come in and talk about (which no one else has done) and has always been especially kind to me.
This group was giving a presentation on Suelo (soil) and started it with a reenactment of a ch'alla or blessing performed on specific holidays on people's land for good luck. Pretty cool. The girl in the middle is another one of my housemates, Emma.
And I have to give major props to Elliot and Gina, other B44er's for helping me out. They provided a nice listening break from my broken Spanish for the audience. I could of done it without you, but it would have really sucked! You're the best!
And here we are at the end of the workshop. Everyone with their maletines. Now they better use them!
The second time around I was able to get funds through the German organization GTZ which I've talked about previously on here (actually, a month later I still haven't been reimbursed, but that's another story I suppose). Anyways, they are the organization that originally donated the Maletines to me. The maletin (briefcase) is a boxed set of four really great educational text books all about environmental ed. in the Chaco. The main purpose of the taller was simply to get these materials to local teacher's so they can use them in their classrooms because as I've said before teacher's are given pathetically few teaching resources here. And the secondary objectives where to learn new dynamic methodologies to teach EE, create and present EE themed lessons, and discuss the environmental problems of the Chaco region.
In all there where 25 teachers who attended with many more wanting to, but unfortunately I only had a certain number of maletines to give away. I had previously worked with almost all of them before so I was a lot more comfortable presenting my portion of the workshop than I think I would have been otherwise. I purposely set up the workshop for the teachers of the two schools I work a lot with specifically for that reason. I figured they already knew my level of Spanish and what to expect of me, more or less, so I didn't get too nervous about it.
Of course there are always a few slackers in every group, but overall I was really pleased with every bodies participation. Five of the participants were actually my housemates and I was pleasantly surprised to see them working on their presentations for the last day of the workshop during lunch at the house! It was a touching moment for me. You could tell that some of the groups really had put a lot of thought into their presentations. It was really nice to hear how "bonito" the workshop was from many of the teachers and how they were surprised that almost everyone had stayed till the last minute, which usually doesn't happen at these kind of things here. So I guess you could say it was a success. Vale la pena! (worth the trouble)
Roxanna (in the dark brown jacket) is actually my host sister and Acelia (in the red) rents a room upstairs next to mine.
I think Norma (on the left above) is my favorite teacher here. She was one of the first I worked with and has always been really enthusiastic about having me in her classroom and incorporating more EE into her classes. She actually comes up with themes she wants me to come in and talk about (which no one else has done) and has always been especially kind to me.This group was giving a presentation on Suelo (soil) and started it with a reenactment of a ch'alla or blessing performed on specific holidays on people's land for good luck. Pretty cool. The girl in the middle is another one of my housemates, Emma.
And I have to give major props to Elliot and Gina, other B44er's for helping me out. They provided a nice listening break from my broken Spanish for the audience. I could of done it without you, but it would have really sucked! You're the best! 
And here we are at the end of the workshop. Everyone with their maletines. Now they better use them!
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