I am going to start this week’s blog with a little comparative analysis. This is a common English major’s literary practice but it can be also be applied to some funny, educational reflection.
For a couple of weeks, depending on the class, during my English seminars at the gymnasium, I have been giving an interactive presentation about Boston. As part of the lesson, I displayed slides and shared/discussed videos about Boston’s geography, landscape, history, architecture, sports, education, arts, music, food, and transportation.
After each slide, I paused, asked, and waited for questions. If I didn’t cold call, I received some blank stares and the following response:
{CRICKETS}
I even showed a spirited, high energy/volume video about the greatest moments from Boston sports. This video was meant to showcase the vibrancy and healthy (at times) camaraderie of Boston sports’ team. The atmosphere of Boston sports is one of my favorite parts of my home city and I wanted to share this with my students. When I looked for some responses from students, some looked intrigued, most looked surprised, and others appeared to be a bit scared. Regardless of my assumed interpretation of facial reactions, without cold calling, I received the following verbal response from the students:
{CRICKETS}
Switching gears…I haven’t been in an elementary or primary school since the fall semester of my senior year at Bates when I assisted in a fourth-grade classroom at a local school. I forgot about the gentle innocence, easy enthusiasm, and adorable affection of these younger students. On Friday, I was quickly reminded of these traits.
I showed the same presentation that I shared with my gymnasium students to first, second, and third grade students at Základni Škola, a primary school in Ostrava. Now I had to alter the presentation a bit by including more songs and visuals because the students couldn’t speak English as well. That said, even when I showed the very first slide, introducing the topic, I received a symphony of funny, but endearing….
Ooooohss….and even some……Aaaaaaaahs.
Not a single cricket.
Then, I showed these students an aerial video of Boston’s landscape.
The video started playing for 10 seconds and I could already sense the wheels turning in each and every one of the students’ heads as their hands jolted up into the air to ask me questions even though they couldn’t ask them in English.
I started playing the song, “The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere” and the students, almost on cue, all jumped up and started to shake their hands in the air and dance. I played the same sports video I showed my gymnasium students and they tried mimicking Tom Brady throwing a touchdown, David Ortiz hitting a grand slam, Chára executing an impressive defensive play, and some Celtics player making a basket (I don’t know this team as well). I even played “Sweet Caroline” to show the students an example of how fans act during Red Sox games and the students started waving their hands, pumping their fists in the air, and singing along.
These students asked me about the differences between the Zakim Bridge in Boston and the Charles Bridge in Prague. They asked me about when the Zakim Bridge was built and why it was built. They asked me about why we would eat a lobster. They asked me about the American Revolution. One little girl even excitedly raised her hand, paused to let herself muster the courage to try and speak in English and randomly told me:
“Miss Sarah….my favorite animal is a turtle.”
With comments such as these, and the high energy and enthusiasm as described above, so much laughter, inquisition, and compassion filled the classroom. I even received massive group hugs and many photo and selfie requests from all the students.
Alright, back to the comparative analysis. Don’t get me wrong, all of the color, light, and energy at the primary school was certainly beautiful, rejuvenating, and heart-warming. But I wouldn’t trade anything for the position I hold teaching English to my secondary education students at Gymnázium Josefa Božka. While a bit more uplifting, I wouldn’t trade the singing and the dancing for the {CRICKETS}. Maybe I am crazy but here is why:
The two experiences are simply different and energizing in different ways and at different times. I don’t have to try too hard to captivate the attention of primary school students. Sometimes I merely introduce myself and the class goes wild. At the gymnasium the process of gaining the students’ trust is much longer and requires a tremendous amount of patience, a little bit of frustration, and many questions. But when the moment does come and the student shows some excitement and eagerness and even asks for some help…these moments seem small and appear at random and unexpected times but are immensely rewarding. These moments present themselves as gifts to me when I need them the most.
I got my first taste of a moment like this at an alternative high school in Lewiston, where I worked with struggling high school seniors and helped them recover course credits. Once I was able to reach and gain the trust of one senior, who was experiencing severe feelings of displacement in his family home, and see his face light up as he applied to a college and listen to me tell him that I too struggle with my sense of direction, I decided that I wanted to keep working toward these moments at more secondary schools – and this includes Gymnázium Josefa Božka. These moments take time and are much less frequent than the hugs, singing, and dancing at primary schools, but they give me the same energy and sense of purpose….in fact even more so.
I have found here in Česky Têšín that if I want these teaching moments to become more frequent, I need to work on establishing authentic relationships with students after-school, outside the classroom setting with my clubs. So far, during these after-school clubs, students ask me more questions, admit that they do want help, even offer me some help and we share some genuinely insightful conversations. I hold after-school tutoring hours at Avion café in Cieszyn and last Thursday a student reminded me of a time during class when I asked her about her dream job while we were completing class resumes. This student wants to take a gap year and remembers pausing in class when I asked her about her dream-job for this resume assignment. She had never been asked about her dream job because she was always told to go the most practical and traditional route. However, this student talked to me about taking a year to travel, work, and learn in a new country, maybe even the United States. She told me she would have never even asked anybody about this hidden dream had she not met somebody sort of living it….somebody like me. She even told me that she wishes some students took more advantage of these after-school hours, and took time to understand how far away I am from home and feelings of familiarity (didn’t quite use this word but I helped her translate).
It was a small moment but one that really showed me that I can use my time in the Czech Republic to not only teach my students about English language lessons but also about opportunities they can pursue worldwide. These students can also learn to step outside of their comfort zone and maybe even land in the United States for some time to grow in whatever way they want or see they need to. I hope these conversations keep happening because these small moments mean a lot to me and I hope for my student as well.
I am also sharing dress designs with students and prepping for the Maturita ball, running and participating in Friday youth groups. I had one conversation with a student on Friday night about the important role faith plays in her life and I was reminded about the significance of my family’s faith as we work through the trauma that has seemed to take over and completely change our life. I am not only teaching my students, they are teaching me to be true to myself, helping me remember where I come from, and reminding me that I have an influx of people by my side. The reality of my distance from home hits me at random moments…but these important reminders do as well.
And, of course, outdoor and indoor adventures have been continuing for me in Česky Têšín. I returned to the artificial wall in Cieszyn with Roman this week and have felt that my climbing is getting better and better. I am more confident in my footing and grip and feel stronger as I work my way to the top of various points of the wall – this confidence is also slowly building itself inside me as I live my day-to-day life in the community. This time in Cieszyn is also a really nice way to release some energy and spend some quality time with my Czech dad after school :). I also went hiking to one of the top peaks of Beskydy Mountains with Pavilina and Roman as we soak in this rare, beautiful November weather. It was a beautiful day of conversation and exploration while we navigated unmarked paths along some streams in the mountains.
I ended the day baking and cooking various Thanksgiving treats/foods, including cranberry sauce, cornbread, and of course, a pumpkin cake; I actually spent the afternoon baking, cooking and talking with my brother from home. This call from home was surprising, and out of the blew but very refreshing. I actually felt like I was in my home kitchen and was hit with some nostalgia. This call is an example of what I hope to share with my students as I bring and share these Thanksgiving foods and stories to the gymnasium this week. I want to share with them the importance of gathering together and giving thanks for family, friends, memories from the year and opportunities at home, school, and worldwide. This is the crux of the day and one that I hope to share and emphasize with my students as I bring and gather them for mini Thanksgiving snacks in each class. This activity will hopefully also teach them about reflection and sharing – two actions that I love doing with this blog :).
What’s next? I will have a week of presentations and Thanksgiving lessons, my first baking club with an oven as I invite students to my flat for the first time, a trip to some salons to prep for the Maturita ball on Saturday (much needed time for some self-love and TLC), and then Sunday I head to Prague first thing in the morning to meet up with a Fulbright alum for a trip to the National Theatre to watch Rusalka, my first opera and just so happens to be about a classic Czech fairytale. And then jumping ahead but I will stay in Prague after the even to meet Alex the next day….my first visit from the US and am out of words to describe my excitement.
Until then….ahoj! As I have been sharing with my students – this week I think it will be a nice practice to take time and reflect about nice memories from the year. Hopefully they make you smile and remember that while Thanksgiving is one day, the feeling of thanks can last much longer 🙂
Redefining Escape 