In my first blog post before the trip, I discussed three goals I had for myself while in Costa Rica. The first one was about learning more about the rainforest ecosystem found in Costa Rica. I got to experience first-hand all of the environmental aspects of the rainforest. I even got to see the difference between the rainforest and the cloud forest. My second goal was finding out about the profile of a Costa Rican educator. I did not find out as much as I could have because of the teacher strike that occurred while we were on the trip. I was still able to collect enough information to complete my research project, so I would say I learned a great deal about Costa Rican educators. My third goal was about finding out the practices used by teachers in Costa Rica. I learned a great deal about working with ELL students, as can be read in numerous other blog posts. I also learned that many teachers use similar strategies that I have learned in college, such as cooperative learning and kinesthetic games to help the children learn.
My most significant experience on the trip was attending Spanish class. I learned a great deal of Spanish in the three weeks I was there. This was aided by having great professors at CPI and setting a personal goal for learning. The four-hour classes were physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausting; I learned exactly how an ELL student feels when placed in an immersive classroom. From this experience, as well as the four elementary school visits, I feel well prepared for working with an ELL student in my classroom.
Many of my blog posts have already been about working with ELL students, but here is a short summary of the things I have learned. First, modeling is an effective way to explain things to students, especially when giving directions. Next, it is best in most situations (in subjects besides communication arts) to allow minor mistakes when speaking and writing. Last, it is important to build classroom community and make sure every child feels like he or she belongs and matters to the class.
For people that are planning to take this trip next year, my only word of advice is to be open to new things. I am very closed-minded at home when it comes to things like my routine and places to eat, however, while on the trip I chose to be adventurous. I tried all of my food and ended up liking almost all of it. I went to various places around town to explore the local gathering places and learn more about Costa Rican culture. I met tons of new people that have made a great impact in my life and have challenged me to be a better “me” every day. I am trying my best to maintain this sense of adventure as much as possible while back in the US.
Overall, I would say that I got a lot out of being on this trip. The thing that helped me most was ensuring that I was always engaging myself whenever possible. I learned about another culture, just as I plan to learn about the culture of my future students. I am so thankful for the opportunity to visit Costa Rica this summer.