With the ending of our weekend adventures also comes a bittersweet ending to our time at RMSI, here in Barcelona. Throughout my time here in Barcelona I have learned a lot about the culture and education system. More than anything, I have become so extremely grateful for the opportunities and educational systems found within America. During my time in the school, I felt as though there were many times when us Americans were “in the way” throughout the school. While our cooperating teachers were helpful and welcoming, the overall schooling experience wasn’t the best. At times, it felt as though the teachers assumed they were better than us, yet struggled to maintain a classroom where learning could take place. I have discovered through these experiences that cultures, most definitely, interfere or contribute to the overall success within the classroom.
Aside from the negatives, I have learned what it's like to truly care about your students and how to show them your heart. My cooperating teacher at RMSI does a great job at truly kindling a relationship and conversation with each and every student in his class throughout the day. Through classroom ribbons for those doing good things to hugs on the playground, Mr. Rodd continues to create an environment in which every student feels valued, wanted and successful. I believe that this is an absolute necessity to any educational setting. More than anything, this experience has reinforced the vital need for human connection in the schools and in life.
In addition to the vitality of human connection, I believe that RMSI did a great job with incorporating curriculum throughout the school environment. Through visuals across multiple content areas, the students are able to review content and see math problems, music vocabulary, etc. throughout the school day. I believe that this would be something interesting to bring into the American schools that have not already implemented the content throughout the school. I have also gained a huge amount of respect for ESL students and the difficulties that they face while in America and in the classroom. After experiencing what it’s like to be in a classroom in which you cannot understand anything being discussed, I can truly feel for my future students who may be derived from their native language.
Undoubtedly, I have thoroughly enjoyed getting the opportunity to explore the city of Barcelona visiting famous areas such as Park Guell, Sagrada de Familia, La Rambla, the Gothic Quarters, and St. Josep La Boqueria, along with numerous restaurants and pastry shops across the city. In other words, the metro has been our best friend! In addition to the sites in Barcelona, I have enjoyed getting the opportunity to explore the culture and the habits and customs that surround it. My host family has been absolutely amazing and I am genuinely going to miss seeing the children each morning and night. Their smiles truly make each day better and I wish nothing but the best for them as they continue in their education and lives.
I most definitely believe that the things learned within the school, the experience with teaching English as a second language and the overall cultural engagement will help to my advantage in my future classroom. The world is such a large and interesting place. By bringing the world into the classroom, we are opening up a whole new set of possibilities and customs for our students to explore. Granting any child that opportunity is vital in the full discovery of oneself, global and human connections within society. My time in Barcelona has been an interesting one; however, I am forever grateful for the opportunities that WKU continues to present its students and the world in which we inhabit.
This chapter is finished, it is now time to begin a new one. Graduation is at the end of this week and I cannot believe my time at WKU is coming to a close. Kentucky, I’m coming home!
 |
| My second grade class at RMSI |
No comments:
Post a Comment