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We arrived in Chile yesterday, but today was our first full day and it was awesome! We started the day with our first day of Spanish lessons at ECELA. They gave us a placement test which turned out to be very challenging for me! Suddenly, the little bit of Spanish I did know (which I thought would be enough to get me by) completely escaped me. I mean after all, it has been a while since I’ve actually used it. I started to get frustrated with the exam and I lost the patience to even try anymore. So much so, that I left the entire last part of the test blank. It was at that point that I realized that this might actually be a little bit more difficult than I had thought. However, things did get better after that! After the written exam was an oral exam which I feel I did much better with. The conversation with the instructor seemed to bring everything back to me, which made for a good rest of the day. With my new found confidence from doing well with the oral exam, I decided to break out of my shell and approach people. The first group of people I approached were from the united states as well, but most of them were studying to be Spanish teachers. They had been studying Spanish for a while and so, on this trip, they were instructed to only speak in Spanish. This meant that I had no choice but to communicate using only Spanish. Though difficult, this was perfect because it forced me to draw on and use everything I knew. Until now, people would eventually speak English to us once they saw that we didn’t understand, but in this situation that was no longer the case! Here is a picture of our group at ECELA, our language school: After Spanish classes, we had a small lunch together (we didn’t want to eat much food because we knew we had a BBQ to attend later on in the day). This came with another challenge because Alexia, the only person in our group who is fluent in Spanish and is therefore our translator, wasn’t with us. However, with some help from who I think might be the owner of the restaurant, we managed to place our orders. Here I got to try un jugo de fruita fresca and pie de limon. It was delicioso! Take a look: After “lunch,” we went to Universidad Mayor for a welcome tea. This was very special because we got to see our Chilean pen pals that we met during their visit to the United States. They prepared tea, sandwiches, and cookies for us, and just wanted to welcome us to their city. It was like greeting old friends; it was greeting old friends! And here we are: Afterwards, we went back to ECELA for a BBQ, but first we learned the Cueuca, which is Chile’s national dance. I must say that this lesson was MUY INTERESANTE! As a group we were terrible and I did especially bad; I mean imagine not being good at dancing and being given directions in a language you aren’t fluent in; muy dificil! However, it was still one of my favorite parts of the day. We were learning to dance, but in reality it was a test of how well we could follow directions…en español! Here is a video of us TRYING to do the Cueca. Sorry it's sideways; I'll fix it later if I learn how! After the disastrous dancing lesson, once the BBQ started, I had the chance to interact with a lot of different people. Turns out our group was the only group there that wasn’t at least fairly fluent in Spanish, which was a little discouraging at first, but everyone turned out to be really encouraging! They pushed us to try speaking Spanish and before I knew it, I didn’t want to speak in English anymore. I found myself in a conversation with a man who was a Spanish professor and a woman from Brazil who had been studying Spanish for quite some time, leaving me to be the weakest link in the conversation. This was extremely difficult because the Spanish professor refused to speak English (he was leading the group I mentioned earlier) and the Brazilian women’s first language was Portuguese, so again another conversation with no inglese! This conversation included a list of topics that ranged from why I was here, what type of teacher I wanted to be and what I would teach, my hair (many people here are fascinated by it), to the most difficult topic of all; the difference in currency in Chile, The United States, Brazil, and another place that I didn’t catch. However, though difficult, I kept up and this inspired me to push myself to communicate in mostly in Spanish for the rest of the trip. Even now it’s tempting to try writing this blog in Spanish rather than English, but for the sake of my English speaking readers I won’t do so. Also, I even find myself having to delete and rewrite words because I wrote them in Spanish by accident, and this is only day one! Yes, this is exactly what I wanted to happen! Overall, I am completely happy with my experience so far. I am adjusting well to Chilean culture [actually as the ambassador (we all have jobs), it is part of my job to make everyone in our group aware of and responsive to Chilean culture], I completely adore my host mom and my new Brazilian sister, the interactions I’ve had at ECELA are invaluable, and I have been and see the potential to learn so much in my time here! Today, Dr. Patti mentioned something about the amount of days we have left here and I automatically gave her the “how dare you?” response. I don’t even want to think about having to go home yet!
Tu amiga, Cristal
15 Comments
Kim Truesdell
5/27/2015 07:30:43 am
WOW!! What an amazing first day! I bet you now have more empathy for our friends at WASH who are trying to adjust to our culture and language! Are there groups of students from other colleges? Where was the picture of you on what looked like the top of a mountain?
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Crystal :)
6/9/2015 03:12:12 am
It was an amazing day and it just keeps getting better :) yes, I definitely have more empathy for our friends at WASH and for ELL's in general! I think you are referring to the one when we were at San Cristobal.
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Pixita del Prado Hill
5/28/2015 07:19:17 am
Crystal, I agree with the other commenters -- you are great writer! Your blog descriptions, reflections, and photos are wonderful and interesting. I'm so happy to hear how well you and the Buffalo State group are doing. The role of "ambassador" is a perfect fit (which I'm happy you will continue in your role as PDS grad assistant)! I can't wait to read/see more in your blog -- please keep posting more! Please also say hello (hola) to the ECELA teachers and our UMayor friends for me -- I miss everyone. Take care, Dr. del Prado
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Crystal :)
6/9/2015 03:16:53 am
Thanks so much Dr. del Prado! You always have the greatest things (sorry, I said "things!" But this doesn't count since it isn't formal writing, right???) to say :). I'm looking forward to my role as grad assistant! See you soon!
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Dr. Paterson
5/28/2015 08:07:49 am
Querida Crystal! Yo se que dificil es hablando un lengua que no es su primera lengua. Realizate que sus estudiantes en Los Estados Unidos estan luchando con Ingles como tu luches con espanol? That's really rickety Spanish, but I'm so proud of you for getting into the culture and the language, that I just had to try, too! You are a wonderful ambassador for us. I know this will be a totally eye-opening experience for you. Be sure that when you return, you keep up with your Spanish lessons. Perhaps another certification in ESL would be a good plan, too! Following you with great affection,
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Crystal :)
6/9/2015 02:56:28 am
Thanks so much, Dr.Patterson!
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Tamara (School of Ed)
5/28/2015 08:31:43 am
Your stories certainly create a strong picture of what it's like those first days within a new culture and new language. I was even starting to get that panicky, embarrassed feeling that comes any time I travel and know that I'll have to rely on others to accommodate my lack of skills. It's humbling and inspiring at once :) Thanks for sharing!
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Crystal :)
6/9/2015 02:59:17 am
Thanks so much for reading! It is a bad feeling knowing you have to depend on others to communicate, right! But it's that same feeling that will motivate you to learn more!
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Nancy Chicola
5/28/2015 09:18:15 am
Now you realize how our students who are English Language Learners feel when they have to complete tests that are not in their first language. I'm glad you didn't give up. I'll be anxious to hear how your Spanish improves in the next two weeks.
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Crystal :)
6/9/2015 03:03:29 am
Yes, Dr. Chicola I know exactly how they feel now. It really was a frustrating experience! I'll do my best to impress you with my improved Spanish when I return! Thanks for reading!
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Leslie Day
5/28/2015 11:06:51 am
You can handle the bumps - just make you stronger!! I am sure you are doing much better than I ever could with your language. You will have to teach me a few words when you return! Enjoy every moment. I love the pictures you have posted!
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Crystal :)
6/9/2015 03:05:34 am
Mrs. Day, you are exactly right! The challenges are what's helping me to grow while I'm here. Sure, we can have some Spanish sessions in the office. See you soon :)
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Kathy Doody
5/29/2015 03:17:13 am
Crystal - what a great entry! Loved the photos - that is one of the tallest juice glasses I have ever seen! How wonderful that you are thinking and typing in Spanish already, after just one day. It shows how quickly you are able to adapt to new situations; good for you! I look forward to seeing more photos and reading more entries. You have a great way with words :) Dr. Kathy
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Crystal :)
6/9/2015 03:09:33 am
Thank yo so much; for your wonderful words and for following my blog! I am happy that I am being challenged to adapt to new situations because this will only make me a better person and a better teacher :)
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Solicitar un préstamo ahora
1/23/2024 03:04:48 pm
Buenos días señor / señora,
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AuthorHello all, or should I say “¡hola!”? My name is Crystal and I’ve recently graduated SUNY Buffalo State with a degree in Elementary Education (grades 1-6) and Social Studies Education (grades 7-9). I will soon begin my studies for Literacy Specialist Certification, but not before I embark on this wonderful journey to Santiago, Chile. For me, this trip beings the opportunity for me to immerse myself in another culture, experience language learning, and adopt new teaching styles; all of which will contribute to making me a teacher who is culturally responsive and able to cater to the diverse needs of students. I anticipate that this trip wil be filled with excitement, challenges, and new understandings! So please, join me for the ride! ArchivesCategories |