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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