During my time in Costa Rica, I will be immersed in another culture and another way of life. I am most excited to learn more about the Costa Rican ecosystem. In elementary school in Missouri, students learn about the four main ecosystems found in the state; caves, prairies, forests, and rivers. Costa Rica is home to the rainforest ecosystem, which has a wide variety of plants and animals. Because of my passion for science, I cannot wait to learn more about this different part of the world and how it supports life. In relation to that, I want to learn more about how Costa Ricans facilitate sustainable living. I feel like this is an area that many Americans are currently not concerned with, but I hope to inspire my future students to take an active role in ensuring their world is well taken care of. I am also very excited to meet my host family in Costa Rica. They will have many experiences and stories to share with me. I hope to learn more about the phrase "pura vida" and how it can affect the way one lives. Another thing I am looking forward to is the food!
There isn't much I am nervous about at the current time. I am somewhat anxious to meet my host family, but it is mostly just excitement. I do hope that I will be able to communicate effectively with people I meet, including my host family.
Below are a few goals I have created for myself for this trip:
1. Build a better background knowledge of the rainforest ecosystem. This will help me explain the topic to students and give them concrete examples (with pictures).
2. Find out about the profile of a typical Costa Rican teacher. This will help me better understand the Costa Rican education system and compare it to America. I will do this by conducting an action research project.
3. Learn about techniques used by Costa Rican teachers to teach students English. This will help me better teach my future ELL students.