Thursday, July 12, 2012

Have the Secretary Pencil Me in...


While creative liberal arts students could likely expound endlessly on how transnational culture shifts and the globalization of media and technology are collectively challenging paradigms and creating a new class of meta-consumers seeking to escape linguistic isolation, I think the real reason my students want to learn Spanish is simple novelty. While Spanish teaching isn’t part of Peace Corps’ project framework (although it very well could be given the rapidly growing number of Spanish speakers in the US), I decided to appease my students and teach a course alongside my English curriculum. What a blessing it has been!

Working with students in a foreign language and environment, it can be easy to confuse an absence of knowledge with a lack of ability. I’ve often lamented my students’ poor critical thinking skills and lack of creativity, pre-maturely judging them for a deficiency of aptitude which is likely as much a product of speaking in a foreign language as it is a true shortage in facility. Yesterday, these negative perceptions of my students were constantly challenged as I was blown away with how quickly they were picking up new phrases, grammar, and vocabulary. As much as I’d like to take credit as the teacher, the reality is that my students are sharp, and confronted with an occasion to learn, they achieved greatness. My role is simply to provide the best possible opportunities for success, but the work is up to them, and they performed!

Today in the middle of an explanation of negative sentences in the past simple tense, I felt a vibration against my leg and heard the soft beep of my phone’s “discreet” setting. My heart pounded as I quickly wrapped up and asked students to try writing their own sentences. I hurriedly sat down at my  desk to read the message. I’d been waiting to hear all day if the secretary could fit me into her schedule, and I knew this would be the reply. Congratulations, you are invited to meet the secretary… the Secretary of State!

Hillary Clinton arrived in Cambodia today to take part in several ASEAN meetings, and volunteers received word yesterday that a few of us would be selected by lottery to attend a “meet and greet” with her on Friday. As a long-time supporter and adorer, I feel so blessed to have been chosen to participate in this special event. My initial anxiety about what I could possibly say upon meeting Hillary was quickly allayed with a message from the PC country director stating that the event would be short (perhaps 15 minutes) in a large room with many attendees. While the chances that I will actually talk with, have a photo with, or shake hands with (hug?!) the Secretary are slim, I will certainly enjoy hearing her speak and seeing her glow as the most respected politician of our time.

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