Teaching Together

From Giles 2 Oct

After our first month of teaching in conditions that are new to both of us, we have seen each other actually teach. So after years of just telling each other how our day went or about this class or that at our separate schools, with all the bests and worsts, highs and lows, triumphs and let downs–we now know for ourselves, firsthand. I can’t speak for Annie, but I can say that as I’ve watched her in classes and listened to her in our training and strategy meetings, I’ve marveled. Her decades of study and rigorous pursuit of understanding the pedagogy and learning theory have impressed me greatly. Both her depth and breadth of knowledge of the research and best practices just flow out in our meetings with the director of the program or his faculty, or the faculty of the schools we work with. It’ s been so fun to work beside her and continue to be so proud of how she has been so confident and competent in these presentations. And of course her usual enthusiasm helps bring it off in such a personal way. She was asked to speak at commencement last Saturday morning for the graduating class at the American Language Institute, an excellent address that was simultaneously translated for the parents and family of graduates. These are the adults who come daily for six weeks for six consecutive terms to learn to speak English. Rather than my opinion of her speech, I’ll report what one of the teachers told her afterwards: “That was a fabulous speech.”

Among our interesting opportunities, was one I had again today. I’m giving private English lessons to the former Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo who is currently a member of Parliament, since his side of the house lost majority. He is a fascinating man who takes correction easily and understands English when spoken with the Congolese accent, but he has difficulty when it’s spoken by an American. So we’re working on that using conversation. We meet three times a week for an hour. So with our other assignments, we’re keeping busy.