In many of my Spanish classes, I make references to Costa Rica. I love Costa Rica. I’ve been there 3 times and it’s full of beauty: the mountains, the volcanos, the exotic animals and plants, and the warm, kind, friendly people. I studied there in 2007 and received a grant in 2011 to go study and conduct interviews with various people that I still use in class today. Then, in 2013, we took 50 students from various schools to Costa Rica to study, travel, and learn about the culture. There’s something about this place that is so peaceful and serene. When I leave, I always leave a piece of my heart.
Even though there is immense beauty in this rich country, there is immense poverty. I had the chance while being there to help Marlen at her small in home daycare while I was traveling and working in 2011. She watched 12 children ages 6 months to 5 years old. All of the children were the kids of single mothers. The mothers worked on the side of the road selling mangos and papayas during the day. Many of the fathers were around but didn’t live with the mothers. Alcoholism was a big problem in Ciudad Quesada and many choose alcohol over fathering their young children. So sad. Marlen’s work ethic was remarkable. She cooked, cleaned, played, and educated these children like they were her own often for 12 hours a day. She depended on the help of volunteers to help manage the day care or “hogarcito.” At the end of my time there, we formed a bond and we keep in touch. While working there, I left my then two year old daughter behind and I missed her terribly. I think she appreciated that I understood the needs and wants of small children. I often made lessons and crafts to teach while occupying the children as she prepared their lunch. I honestly learned so much from the children to use in my own Spanish classes and I share what I learned with my Spanish learning students. I often take grammar and vocabulary lessons and embed them with my experiences working with the “ticos” or Costa Rican people.
When I think about using a textbook as my only resource for teaching, it makes me cringe. I can’t imagine making references to pictures and text elaborating about a place I’ve never been or experienced. When I teach about places I've experienced, there’s passion there. Last week, our pastor at our church mentioned that when Jesus was on earth, he wasn't here to be the King of the world, he was here to be the prince of peace. Jesus wants to be the king of our heart.
Quickly, I related this to the Spanish classroom. When, I make presentations, lessons, and homework assignments related to topics that have my heart, it can capture students’ hearts too. See the presentation below about Costa Rica that I present to the Spanish III students. The lesson is embedded with videos and images that have my heart. In this lesson, I embed the culture into a lesson about homes. Then, a few weeks later, students blog to students in Haddonfield, New Jersey about their homes while comparing their homes to Costa Rican homes. My goal is for the students to truly appreciate their blessings and be thankful for what they have.
I know that every student won’t be moved by the everyday happenings in the Spanish classroom and that ok, but some will. A few months ago, I was in Meijer buying groceries and I ran into a former student, Austin. He was so excited to tell me that he was going to spend his Spring break volunteering in an orphanage in Costa Rica. He told me that he would contact me when he got back to talk about the experience and he did. This is the message I received:
This just made me so happy especially that part that says “I wasn't able to conjugate well but I was able to use tú, ella, etc. and they were able to know what I was talking about.” As foreign language teachers, it’s easy to get caught up in correct grammar usage. So my question is, “Are you, as a teacher, fostering an environment where it’s ok to take risks and make mistakes?” If not, you should change your philosophy! The only way you improve in the WL classroom is by making mistakes in foreign language. If you constantly scold a student for making incorrect grammar errors, how does that foster risk taking? My philosophy is the more authentic, the better. Would Austin have been comfortable using his Spanish if he wasn't exposed to real, native like listening, reading, and writing materials? I don’t know, but what I know is that he felt comfortable in authentic situations. Now, I think Costa Rica has his heart too.