EIL Intercultural Learning

Hey Everybody. Ok, here's an update on what I have been up to here over the past couple of weeks in Ecuador. After leaving Quito I swapped the busy streets and flashing lights of 'La Mariscal' for the laid back town of Puerto Quito. Although don't let the name fool you, this place could be nothing less like the capital.

The cobbled main street makes up 90% of everthing to see and do in the centre of the town. The pace of life here is definitely relaxed. The rainforest backdrop makes you feel like I have walked on to a movie set. And in truth it is comparable to a paradise. Needless to say I am loving it! Despite the snakes, spiders and scorpions.

As I mentioned in my last post I live in the rainforest surrouned by oranges, lemons and cacao. On the weekends I go to the local waterfall for a swim and spend the evenings in my hammock with a class of fresh coconut milk. I don't think I could make it sound anymore stereotypical but it really can be like that here. The area is small and not wealthy so few people have there own means of transport. That translates to when you want to get in to town you have to hitch a lift. While I wouldn't feel safe doing this in Quito, in Puerto Quito it is a different story. Whether on the back of a pick up truck or the back of a motorbike people are happy to help you get around for the odd 50 cents or so. I would have loved to see my own face when I was first told to get on the roof of a bus to travel. I thought he was joking, apparently not. Of course you have to use your own common sense too. However, Im not here to lie around in a hammock all day. Im here to volunteer with the locals and teach some English...

I started my volunteer work here the day after I arrived. I work in a local secondary school for children aged 11-18, the same system as Ireland. While I am here my job is to teach english, I don't have my own class, instead I work along side an Ecuadorian English teacher named Bolívar. Before arriving here I had expected the standard of English to be quite low here and in general this is true. The people feel little need to learn English as tourists mainly pass through Puerto Quito on the way to other, bigger destinations. However, I really think Bolívar has a broad knowledge of the language and as he lived in the United States he is more or less fluent in conversation. For the people that want to learn English, he is the best bet.

In the school my main job is to pronounce words correctly and help with translating more complicated colloquial concepts from the text books. I thoroughly enjoy the classes. The students are a pleasure to teach. The presence of a native English speaker in the class really does inspire motivation. Of course, as in every school everywhere there are students that are less enthusiastic about learning in general but Bolívar's classes are interactive and fun for the students and myself so I think everyone is learning something. One thing I have noticed here is that the students are not as self conscious as in Ireland. I couldn't imagine individual students singing 'My Heart Will Go On' by Celine Dion in front of their English class. But they do here. By now I have got to know the students in my classes quite well and they are a great laugh. It really makes up for the waking up at 6am and walking for an hour to the school everyday. The school itself is pretty big maybe 350 students. It again is straight out of a film, the students pick oranges of the trees and have one of the teachers DJ a bit of the ol' Latin music at break time. The classes are big and noisy but they are a clever bunch and as I said a pleasure to teach.

Aswell as this I am working in the evenings too with an English language class run by Bolívar. This class is open to all ages and is completely free. Some of the students from the school attend and in total there are 25 students. This class has a diferent dynamic and is more how I imagined a TEFL job to be. The students are more attentive because they are there through there own motivation. That doesnt make the job any less enjoyable at all. It is nice to interact with the adults of the community and I feel I am learning alot from both the adults and the students. Although it does leave me with little free time. I know I am here for a limited amount of time but I am impressed by the teachers who are doing this sort of course everyday. Not for profit but for the community.

I think I have waffled on for long enough now. I am determined to blog on evertyhing I have experienced here so I may be posting for quite a while. And as they say a picture speaks a thousand words so I'll put a few up and I'll keep you posted.

Ciao