1 00:00:00,750 --> 00:00:05,990 How can language assistants help students to improve their views of others around the world? 2 00:00:10,179 --> 00:00:14,759 So I wanted to talk about this question because two different specific examples came to mind. 3 00:00:14,759 --> 00:00:21,879 Because I think that as LAs or ETAs, that we have an opportunity to really broaden our students' minds, 4 00:00:22,399 --> 00:00:27,500 both with regards to the diversity in American culture and the diversity of global culture. 5 00:00:28,199 --> 00:00:33,320 And as much as sometimes I'm just approached by an English teacher who I work with, 6 00:00:33,320 --> 00:00:38,380 and he or she will say, oh, this week on Thursday, David, I just want you to give a presentation about 7 00:00:38,380 --> 00:00:43,960 some facet of American culture. And so it's a very, um, open-ended assignment. And when I'm 8 00:00:43,960 --> 00:00:48,119 approached with something like that, I prefer to, instead of talking about like Thanksgiving and 9 00:00:48,119 --> 00:00:52,539 Halloween and American football and things they've probably already talked about instead, um, I've, 10 00:00:52,560 --> 00:00:57,939 I've touched on like Martin Luther King and the civil rights movement or other aspects of American 11 00:00:57,939 --> 00:01:04,200 culture that they maybe haven't been exposed to that might also illuminate a part of American 12 00:01:04,200 --> 00:01:09,879 history that they might not be familiar with. And so that's one way that I think that we have the 13 00:01:09,879 --> 00:01:15,959 potential ability to really broaden students' minds and perspectives. And similarly, I've tried 14 00:01:15,959 --> 00:01:20,859 to sometimes also focus attention on other English-speaking countries that are not the 15 00:01:20,859 --> 00:01:28,819 United States. In spite of the fact that I am from the U.S., students tend to think of the United 16 00:01:28,819 --> 00:01:32,019 Kingdom and the United States when they think of English-speaking countries, but I've given 17 00:01:32,019 --> 00:01:37,239 presentations on Australia and Ireland, New Zealand, and these other places where English is 18 00:01:37,239 --> 00:01:42,680 a prominent language, and that is often relevant in these English-speaking classes. And we can say, 19 00:01:42,760 --> 00:01:46,719 hey, did you know that in Australia they have these funny words that they use over here, and 20 00:01:46,719 --> 00:01:52,239 they mean XYZ and so I've also tried to sort of broaden or at least introduce 21 00:01:52,239 --> 00:02:00,040 some new aspects of English speaking world to the students I work with I 22 00:02:00,040 --> 00:02:06,040 think one of the most important things because I mean just in society today I 23 00:02:06,040 --> 00:02:13,300 think that technology because we're we're high technology society where 24 00:02:13,300 --> 00:02:18,280 sometimes it influences people's perspectives and a lot of times different 25 00:02:18,280 --> 00:02:24,939 stereotypes are developed because of this and one of the ways that that these 26 00:02:24,939 --> 00:02:29,199 that LA's can improve students improve their views by breaking down these 27 00:02:29,199 --> 00:02:35,439 stereotypes that come from sometimes things like the media or like movies 28 00:02:35,439 --> 00:02:41,560 that they see and they can also help exchange like I said earlier ideas about 29 00:02:41,560 --> 00:02:47,080 current events are happening in different regions and ideas about their 30 00:02:47,080 --> 00:02:53,919 culture so and I think this is like a one of the way that they can help break 31 00:02:53,919 --> 00:02:59,199 down or at least help improve their views of the world by doing these things 32 00:02:59,199 --> 00:03:09,439 how can the work of language assistance help students to develop collaborative 33 00:03:09,439 --> 00:03:18,080 skills and peer work yeah great so obviously the global classrooms program 34 00:03:18,080 --> 00:03:21,439 I think is an incredible way to build these collaborative skills. 35 00:03:22,199 --> 00:03:27,180 One thing that I also noticed that in a lot of the courses in my school, 36 00:03:27,280 --> 00:03:33,979 it didn't seem that the teachers put so much of an emphasis on group work and collaboration and interactive activities. 37 00:03:34,120 --> 00:03:38,479 It's kind of more either book work or the teacher really explaining or lecturing a concept. 38 00:03:38,639 --> 00:03:45,280 So I think it really is great to kind of add that new dimension, especially even after the Global Classrooms Program ends. 39 00:03:45,280 --> 00:03:50,879 So one of the teachers and I, we kind of worked together to make a new debating program for the students. 40 00:03:50,979 --> 00:04:01,099 And I think that was a great way for them kind of to interact and continue this idea of working in teams and doing these types of activities that they're not really accustomed to in the school. 41 00:04:01,580 --> 00:04:07,319 So I think kind of working with the teachers to build these interactive programs, because a lot of the teachers are willing to do that. 42 00:04:07,419 --> 00:04:11,319 They just kind of want some help with that and some guidance. 43 00:04:11,319 --> 00:04:15,460 So I think that is definitely a great way to do that, kind of just inventing these new activities. 44 00:04:16,519 --> 00:04:26,889 From a personal point of view, what would you say are the highlights of the language assistant program? 45 00:04:30,839 --> 00:04:36,439 For me, this program was really interesting because before this year, I taught for two years as a Spanish teacher. 46 00:04:37,079 --> 00:04:42,120 So this program sort of gave me the opportunity to teach and also learn at the same time. 47 00:04:42,800 --> 00:04:46,459 Normally when you're teaching, you only get periodic observations. 48 00:04:46,459 --> 00:04:54,000 But in this job, I got to work with a teacher, and I got to have them plan the lessons with me. 49 00:04:54,180 --> 00:05:00,459 I got to delve into the bilingual system of education, and they gave me reflections on what went well in the classroom and what didn't. 50 00:05:00,800 --> 00:05:05,639 So it was a teaching and learning experience, which I really enjoyed. It was a great experience. 51 00:05:06,879 --> 00:05:07,959 Oh, there are many. 52 00:05:07,959 --> 00:05:20,980 I think for me at least like initially I know that I've I mean I've never been 53 00:05:20,980 --> 00:05:28,240 outside of the North American continent so it was something that I was a little 54 00:05:28,240 --> 00:05:32,860 bit hesitant but very excited at the same time and I think the program in 55 00:05:32,860 --> 00:05:40,360 general. It pushed me to go outside my comfort zone and because of that I've 56 00:05:40,360 --> 00:05:45,040 experienced a tremendous growth both on a personal level and then even 57 00:05:45,040 --> 00:05:51,660 professionally and I've seen I feel like I've been presented with just like 58 00:05:51,660 --> 00:05:58,959 different opportunities and also another thing was that I got to meet different 59 00:05:58,959 --> 00:06:02,319 people from different cultures and backgrounds form wonderful relationship 60 00:06:02,319 --> 00:06:07,980 with the students, the professors, and it also gave me the opportunity to work on my 61 00:06:07,980 --> 00:06:13,959 community project, which I'm very passionate about, and I'm very happy about how it's progressed 62 00:06:13,959 --> 00:06:18,620 with the school's community garden that we developed. 63 00:06:18,620 --> 00:06:26,300 And so with that, I got to see firsthand the impact that it made on the community, working 64 00:06:26,300 --> 00:06:31,079 with the professors, the students, the elderly, people in the community, which is really nice. 65 00:06:31,079 --> 00:06:43,779 and just like different things like traveling, getting to experience firsthand all the historical places that I normally would just read about, 66 00:06:44,060 --> 00:06:50,779 maybe like in the U.S. or something, because everything I feel here is like very close. 67 00:06:51,680 --> 00:06:55,000 There's also like, it's full of history. 68 00:06:55,259 --> 00:06:56,600 The culture is very enriching. 69 00:06:56,600 --> 00:07:02,600 And, I mean, even from the gastronomy is, like, wonderful here as well. 70 00:07:04,279 --> 00:07:06,420 I mean, there's just so many things. 71 00:07:06,540 --> 00:07:14,019 I think those are, and also, like, forming friendships with the people that I met, like, both in school and then through the program. 72 00:07:14,019 --> 00:07:17,560 I think those are all highlights, at least for me. 73 00:07:18,540 --> 00:07:24,500 So, my main highlight inside the classroom is getting to work with these small groups. 74 00:07:24,839 --> 00:07:29,360 I've been really fortunate to work with 15 or 20 students throughout the whole year, 75 00:07:29,600 --> 00:07:32,819 and we have a really close relationship. 76 00:07:33,339 --> 00:07:38,120 I've gotten to see their English skills improve, which is really cool because I feel like I've helped. 77 00:07:38,720 --> 00:07:43,139 Also, I'm not that much older than them, so I feel like we relate to each other really well, 78 00:07:43,339 --> 00:07:47,220 and class can be fun, we can joke about things, it doesn't have to be so strict. 79 00:07:47,740 --> 00:07:52,360 And so I've really appreciated having this chance to get to know these students, 80 00:07:52,360 --> 00:07:55,480 And I think I'm really lucky for having that chance. 81 00:08:00,410 --> 00:08:04,850 What would you do to make your collaboration as a language assistant more effective? 82 00:08:08,509 --> 00:08:12,250 I think in order to make my collaboration more effective, not only with my teachers, 83 00:08:12,410 --> 00:08:16,870 but with the other staff that I work with, again, is through just solid communication. 84 00:08:17,509 --> 00:08:24,250 I think interacting with each other and exchanging ideas and passing along notes about the students, 85 00:08:24,410 --> 00:08:28,410 about possible ideas to do in the classroom, I think that's a great way to collaborate. 86 00:08:28,410 --> 00:08:31,990 Like I said, not only with teachers, but also with the staff, the other assistants. 87 00:08:32,549 --> 00:08:33,870 I think that's the best way to do it. 88 00:08:39,190 --> 00:08:43,669 How could you contribute in a more effective way to the language assistant program? 89 00:08:47,090 --> 00:08:56,169 I think using the fact that the students view you as a break in their routine would be really helpful 90 00:08:56,169 --> 00:09:00,169 because they have their teachers that they see every single year. 91 00:09:00,629 --> 00:09:02,649 However, every year there are new assistants. 92 00:09:02,649 --> 00:09:08,649 So having you in their classroom is a total change in their day. 93 00:09:08,649 --> 00:09:15,649 And so they're naturally going to be more interested in what you have to say and how you're going to say that. 94 00:09:15,649 --> 00:09:22,649 So I think you have to use that interest to really help the teacher and help the teacher learn. 95 00:09:22,649 --> 00:09:27,649 Because what I've found is that even though they may not be listening to the teacher, 96 00:09:27,649 --> 00:09:32,250 when I say something or when other language assistants say something, they 97 00:09:32,250 --> 00:09:37,190 tend to listen a little bit more simply because we're different. We're the 98 00:09:37,190 --> 00:09:42,090 English-speaking assistants and not the Spanish teachers. It's just a break in 99 00:09:42,090 --> 00:09:47,649 the routine. Then finally, getting to know your students is really helpful because 100 00:09:47,649 --> 00:09:53,029 you're giving these lessons and presentations to the students. So what 101 00:09:53,029 --> 00:09:56,450 you have to do is you have to think, when I was in high school, when I was in 102 00:09:56,450 --> 00:10:04,009 middle school, what did I find interesting about the presentations? What did I like about 103 00:10:04,009 --> 00:10:10,070 what my teachers did? So if you don't like a presentation, you think it's boring, it's 104 00:10:10,070 --> 00:10:14,509 very likely that your students will also think that it's very, very boring because at the 105 00:10:14,509 --> 00:10:20,169 end of the day, they're teenagers. They just want to have fun. They don't want to do work. 106 00:10:20,169 --> 00:10:24,470 So what I would do is I would find out what my students' favorite TV shows and movies 107 00:10:24,470 --> 00:10:31,090 and I would incorporate different memes into my presentations and I they really 108 00:10:31,090 --> 00:10:36,509 really enjoyed that as I became the assistant with the funny pictures at my 109 00:10:36,509 --> 00:10:40,909 school so getting in in the end get to know your students get to know what they 110 00:10:40,909 --> 00:10:47,230 like so you can tailor your lessons and your presentations to those students so 111 00:10:47,230 --> 00:10:53,750 I think for me with I think that I did a nice job of communicating with my 112 00:10:53,750 --> 00:10:58,750 day-to-day colleagues at my school I think if I were to do things differently 113 00:10:58,750 --> 00:11:02,450 going forward I would have been a little bit more open and speaking to my 114 00:11:02,450 --> 00:11:06,289 colleagues throughout the city so my Fulbright colleagues who are at other 115 00:11:06,289 --> 00:11:12,250 schools in the community and then maybe participating more often in forums to 116 00:11:12,250 --> 00:11:18,350 gain lesson ideas or teaching ideas just to find find ways to do things 117 00:11:18,350 --> 00:11:24,470 differently. You know, one thing that I am glad that I was able to accomplish this 118 00:11:24,470 --> 00:11:29,230 year was just kind of breaking out of the typical PowerPoint and lecture 119 00:11:29,230 --> 00:11:35,590 routine that happens, in my opinion, too often in the high school classroom. I was 120 00:11:35,590 --> 00:11:40,730 glad to be able to use primary sources and history classes, to do poetry 121 00:11:40,730 --> 00:11:46,190 analysis in group, to have debates in class, things that just break the mold a 122 00:11:46,190 --> 00:11:48,929 a little bit, and if I were to change anything, 123 00:11:48,929 --> 00:11:51,830 maybe I would have looked to do even more of that 124 00:11:51,830 --> 00:11:54,070 if I was doing it for a second time.