Training Continues

This is our usual routine. The various groups walk to the Hotel Gran Plaza to arrive at 9AM.

Agenda: Listening Activities, break, Microteaching (demo of our listening activity), lunch, Health and Safety.

Today's focus centered on the first part of the Chilean educational curriculum involving Listening Skills Developement. Ms. Maria Paz( chilean) and Mr. Jim Kuka (australian) effectively planned a listening lesson using music by Mercedes Sosa. We all participated to the point where we learned the lyrics of the song and sang it. I liked the way the steps of the activity lead to the desired outcome.

Of course, break was as nice as yesterday. Continuing the listening activity focus we were all divided into two groups. Followed by pairing for the purpose of preparing a short demo of a listening activity. Later, after the lunch break we moved to another room where demos of our lessons were to be presented.

In the Microteaching session each pair demonstrated our parts of a listening lesson. Mr. Kuka was our observer and gave us immediate feedback. My pair was Lauren and we did an American Cafe "Ordering Food" demo.

Once back to the main conference room, the focus was directed on informing us about our insurance. An overview of emergency information and safety issues ended our day at 4pm. I walked back to the hostel alone thus re-enforcing the way in my mind.

Now I'm just blogging.

What did I learn today?

Music is the greatest tool to use in class to motivate and assist listening skills development.

In case of medical need a clinica (private clinic) or a hospital can be chosen. However, if the treatment is not so serious a clinica is better, besides it gives faster care.

Chilean Ministry Training

July 26 Mon - 9am Training location at the Hotel Gran Plaza at Huerfanos Avenue in the business district of Santiago center.

Agenda: Welcome, Personal Presentations, Visa Process, break, Chilean Educational System, Learning a Foreign Language, Lunch, Lesson Planning.

Our presenters are from the Ministry (MINEDUC) and former volunteers. The opening began with introductions from the Santiago coordinators who will be our contact persons here. Although we will have a Regional Coordinator contact person who will actually be the first line of contact.

After a couple of hours it was break time. Adjacent to the conference sits a cafe-style lounge where we were served delicious coffee with cookies and fresh juice. Once again back into the conference room; the training continued until 12:30pm. Oh, we were given a voucher worth 2500 Chilean pesos for our lunch stipend. SWEET...

Lunch for today was 2hours long which was a real surprise. Three of us (Hannah, Ryan and I) walked to a nearby naturalist cafe. I loved the natural sandwiches consisting of avocado, egg, tomato, shredded carrots, a speacial dressing and other veggies on wheat bread. I accompanied my healthy delight with mint tea (real leaf in the cup).

What did I learn today?

English class is in blocks of 90 minutes. There are two models: the Flexible and the Divide/Split. In the Split, the volunteer takes one half the class for 45 min. then switches with the other half of class for the second 45 minutes. The class teacher gives grammar/writing while the volunteer teaches in another classroom.


The Flexible model- volunteers are encouraged to use this model for the following reasons. In this model, the volunteer pulls out of class some 10 students at a time to give them English instruction in another classroom. The following week, more students are pulled out by the volunteer until half the class is with her/him. In this manner the volunteer would work on knowing the students, class management, and reaching all 40-50 students.

Trekking

Zpping down the trail!

Open arms of Christ.

A nice natural drink: cold tea, peach, barley

breathtaking view from above

Beautiful view where Grace, Roman, and I trekked up and down the mountain.

Some smog can be seen, although it is not thick now as chileans have told us it will be in the summer.

Sight Seeing Day

July 25 Sunday - 9am to 6:30pm Finally we got an entire day off!

We are a trio: Roman, Grace and myself who bravely have decided to make the day full of walking. Our day started with a hike up and down a mountain called San Cristobal.

Followed by long walks to Pablo Neruda's house La Chascona in Santiago.

Like soldiers with a mission we're onward walking to 2 more museums: The Historical Museum and Pre-Columbian Museum. Check out the pictures!!

This statue depicts a pregnant woman.

Yeah, the statue above shows someone pooping!!!

Switch Hostel

July 24 - Saturday The day began rainy and cold. Burrrr

Packed all our suitcases to be ready to switch hostel.

12 noon Introduction of other volunteers: Jeremy, Chris and Bennet, followed by a Question and Answer section.

Their stories are surprisingly funny yet informative.

3PM off to the new hostel - 4pm yeah, a warm room! (a little though)

5-7:30 showered unpacked, email. Some of the girls went to purchase a little thank you present for our Director (Allyson C.)

7:30-The entire 16 member group went to the Dos Vacas Restaurante (sort of fancy) for dinner. I had my first grilled steak ala Chilean plus another popular drink (shared with Grace) called pisco. It is a drink made of lime with pisco wine. Allyson loved the purple scarf present. Long tales and funny stories were told until midnite.

Rain, Rain Go Away

July 23 Friday - 11am concise teacher training until 2pm.

Agenda: responsibilities as a volunteer, assignments due throughout the semester, video project initiative.

The group had decided to split to go sightseeing or shopping; after lunch at 3pm the rain continued forcing us to shop for those little items we had forgotten. Keep in mind our mode of transportation is walking.

Field Trip- Finally back at the hostel to meet the professors for the field trip to a local eatery. 6:30pm we are off walking to the metro. Soon enough we have arrived to a sketchy place, Pancho Causeo, that actually turned out to be great! We had picadas (finger food) , the Chorrillana (chorizo, meat, french fries, onion smothered in wine, all topped by two fried eggs). The other fingerfood was the Pichanga consisting of cold pork, cheese, olives, tomatoes, sautee boiled potatoes. Both were delicious!!

The best part of our gathering was the drink "Terremoto" (earthquake), my friend Hannah and I shared because it was huge. This drink is famous here, it consists of a natural wine called pipino+granadina+pineapple ice cream. Yes, the ice cream fools you into drinking more. Anyways, we all had Terremotos, its a tourist tradition.

As we left the eatery we were sad to depart our Spanish professors, but we will keep in contact through email. We walked back to the metro and got off at a place know for salsa dance lessons. Got there too late because of the rain. It continued to rain as we went from location to location looking for a place large enough for our group

Something to note about the dance places here, they are small and smoking is allowed inside. YUK! Since it was so rainy a few of us decided to go back to the hostel (11:45pm). The next advise to give, after 11pm take a taxi home. So, here we are 5 people packed into a taxi so small that one of us had to lay over the laps of the others. It was hilarious to see (if you could have been here).

Rain, rain, go away, come back some other day...

Rainy & Cold Day

July 22 Thur- Teacher training started at 10am. As usual we walked to the Instituto for class.

Chilean words- comuna=district. Class discussion on regions in Chile.

Agenda: Lesson Demos

Lesson Plan #2 Demonstrate a section of lesson plan using materials assigned to the lesson. Class was divided into two groups. Group 1 each individual demos their lesson to group, feedback and alternatives.

Our group 2 went out to practice our demos then got coffee, it is mad cold at the Instituto (no heating, remember).

Group 1 and 2 switched, I was able to demo effectively although I expected interruptions for class management issues (my audience was too nice). Good feedback encouraged me to use these materials and music for a lesson in the future.

Almuerzo (lunch) was comprised of a cazuela (unique chilean soup) and salad. Again walk back to the Instituto for Spanish class.

Spanish class was very intersting in that Arnavik (spanish professor) gave us examples of his days teaching seconday students. In particular as to class mangement as well as the possible discipline problems that may emerge. Our conversational topics were varied according to each persons interests.

Food names: chemilico=sandwich, chacarelo= sandwich with meat, vacuna=veal or any cow meat, arrollado=pernil. Our field trip with Profe will be tomorrow at 6pm.

Our group walked back to the hostel, some would be going out dancing.

Another Intense Day

July 21 Wed 10am- Our intense teacher training continues

Chilenismo words-puuucha!=awesome, chuuucha!=great or awesome, buena onda=good time

Agenda: Health & Safety, 2010 travel manual, emergency plan skits by four teams, teaching for disabilities. Travel Form very important (it is not being nosy).

Core activities revolved around skits due to safety issues because of aftermath of earthquake.

Part II-there is no ESE concept in Chile, there is inclusion. Class size is about 40 to 50 students!

On going until 2pm. Almuerzo. 3:15pm we walked back to the hostel to get our passports
Group took individual Passport pictures chilean style (like a mug shot). Walked to the building of the Chilean Ministry of Eduation .

4pm at MINEDUC to fill out our Temporary Residence Visas.

Walked back to the hostel lounge for Spanish Class. Our class was very interesting learning about the roots of the chilenismos. Chilean spanish has influences from Quechua, Mapudungun and Castillian languages. Very interesting.

Quechua words-chalas=sandals, callampas=mushrooms, guagua=baby, chasquilla=hair bangs, taita=dad

Mapuche origin words-pololo=boyfriend, pilucho=naked, pichi=need to urinate

Spanish humor word Condorito, garabatos=profanity,

Homework til late.

Spanish Class/Teacher Training

Tues-July 20. A very very long day.
Chilenismo words: al tiro = hurry or immediately, bacan = cool or awesome.

AGENDA: class management, instruction and error correction, almuerzo, teaching vocabulary and grammar, Communicative Activities/Demonstrations.

Core of training: Part I review, vocabulary and key phrases, extensive class management. Class management should contain expectations, consequences/rewards, and consistency.

Part II Introduction & Error Correction: Introduction- indispensable to have written Good Instructions, modeling each step, check for understanding, translate into action.

In error correction always give positive feedback for effort from student.
Vocabulary/Grammar & Structure: use various ways to convey word meaning (not written definitions), includes visuals, acting and music. Example: the MATAMOSCAS Game.

5pm walked back near hostel w/Allyson and Ryan. I went alone to store PARIS to check out their coats. Hurray! I bought a warm coat, two sweaters, PJs, thermal shirts, and another robe to sleep in.

7PM-Chilean Spanish class with Profe Arnavik. Too many to list. Conversations in group and individually. Read various newspaper article to assess our comprehension of chilean humor, culture, chilenismo words.

9-12:30 eat supermarket food items, skit due tomorrow, blog, email

Mainly stayed doing skit prep with team Stage 2: Stephanie, Katie and myself.

Our skit consisted of acting our an emergency situation where we are to show the procedure contained in our Step 2 manual (Health & Safety).

More training

Mon July 19- Our group walked to the Instituto Chileno Norteamericano for intense teacher training.

AGENDA: EFL training, Daily Lesson Planning, Almuerzo, 3:15pm Chilean Spanish class, Objectives, our Mission in Chile, Multiple Intelligences, TILT

Our chilenismo words: carrete = party, copete = a liquor drink

Core of training dealt with; 1-methodologies, factors of culture/studentsclassroom/ school environment. 2-SWBT (students will be able to), 3-I Do, We Do, You Do, 4-Closing

Spanish class: chilenismo words - yunta=amigo, cana=hangover, huasca=a whip, albo=soccer player
Our lesson involved reading and interpreting chilenismo words.

6-9pm A small group went to Paseo San Agustin to buy boots, check out the coats, and buy supremarket food. I am freezing! Can't wait to get back to the hostel to eat dinner.

9-10pm walked back to eat my store bought food: German meatloaf with mash potatoes, juice and grapes.

10:30 Update Blog, email home, Lesson Plan #1 Homework

1:30am Bedtime

Legacy to the Next Generation

Sunday 9am - Our teacher group is ready for an inspirational look to the past. We meet Andres and his daughter Paula who will be our personal guides for this retrospect journey. The chilean way of meeting is to beso everyone as we greet. It's a beso to the air while touching right cheek-to-cheek.

Andres is an ex-prisioner of the dictatorship regime who was held and tourtured during the 70s. His input on a first hand basis made the information come alive. The story of our tour today is best told by the pictures taken.

In a few words the tour started at Londres street where small marble tiles have been placed to commemorate the mudered men and women. Our group took a van with Andres and Paula to see the change of guards at the Presidential Palace (La Moneda). I have included a couple of videos that my roommate Grace graciously took. Enjoy!

We hopped into the van for the next place, the General Cementary. Andres mentioned the particular chilean way of configuring the tombs into a simulation city. One main part was the memorial walls with the lists of the dead who had been killed during the regime. Again the photos give a better description.


Once again we were driven to another location even more profound, it was to Villa Grimaldi. This location was the main torture center during the dictatorship. Andres and former president of Chile Michele Bachalete had been tortured here. The focus for Villa Grmaldi is to pass on the live stories to the next generation. Please view the pictures with this fact in mind.

4pm-Relax time, computer blogging, chit-chat 'til dinner.

7pm-Out to dinner to celebrate Ryan's birthday. All of us met at the lobby to walk to his choice restaurante DOS VACAS. After agood brisk half hour walk our surprise to see the restaurante closed! In order to not go in circles we asked at a hotel what good restaurants were open. The Castellanas was the recommended destination just a few doors down at the corner.

In we went with our birthday guy with anticipations of trying a typical chilean food. I ate the famous Cazuela de Ave (chicken stew/soup) as a few of us shared Ryan's Tres Medallas vino rojo (chilean red wine). Soon, Stephanie and Katie joined us since they had gone to Iglesia San Francisco for a short mass.

10:30pm- Lauren, Maureen and I took a taxi to get back to the hostel, the others were going to continue the night. Reflecting on today's inspirational tour along and the friendships I'm making has me thinking of how blessed I am to be in CHILE.

Amazing Race Chile

Today is day 6 of teacher training.

I am part of the Blue Waves team: Stephanie, Lauren and myself.

Yes, anyone that doubts that our group did an Amazing Race ala television-stlyle format, please see the pictures we took during the race. Oh, by the way, we came in last. That is more than okay with me because the experience is what really counted.

The race for our teams began at 11am. It ended when the Blue Waves arrived at 3:40pm at the final convergence location. A few pictures and away we went to go back home on the Metro subway.

By 5pm we separated into groups to make errands that were pending. My group of girls walked on to the Paris store to buy a hairdryer, I a cell phone. Believe it or not, I bought a basic cell phone for less than $20 USdollars including connection! The hair dryer cost me $11 USdollars (wet hair does not go with cold weather). On we walked to a supermarket to buy some dinner then back to our hostel by 6pm.

Certainly the exercise in walking everywhere is much appreciated by many of us. When the weather is so cold the walking is such a blessing. Now each of us eats our supermarket-bought dinners at the hostel's cafe lounge. Immediately, some of us bring our computers to the lounge to continue our blogs. Hurray!! I am caught up on my journaling.

I case you are wondering why I mention so much the cold. Well, there is no indoor heating anywhere (including stores, pharmacies, etc.) Try taking a shower or sleeping in super cold weather and you get the picture...

Teacher Training

Day 5 July 16, Friday 10:00am - 8:00pm Intensive teacher training day. It is a holiday in CHILE, many stores are closed.

Allyson and Jesse were fantastic teachers by providing our group with effective cross-cultural activities. We were not able to go to the Instituto Chileno Norteamericano for the lessons due to the holiday closure. It is mad cold in the hostel as we are doing the activities. Bundle, bundle, bundle was the only way to fight off the cold!

Our CHILENISMO words today are: cachai = catch it, poroto = beans, fome = lame, que lata = how sad, a tiro = right now, moneda = change in pocket. Interesting how words have been made up.

Activites covered today were: Chilean culture, cultural adjustments, coping methods, phases of 1st year teaching, and viewing the movie "MACHUCA". The movies made me cry because as an audience I am viewing how the dictatorship started through the eyes of children. Principally two main characters.

8:00pm We all walked to a nice restaurant called NURIA's for the purpose to eat and stretch our legs. By 9:30pm we're back at the hostel to relax. All of us went to the lounge as our place to use our computers. Time flew, it's 1am. Oh, would you believe tomorrow is our Amazing Race! Sure is...

U.S.Embassy Visit

Day 4 July 15, Thursday Up at 7:30 am. Ready for another long day.

After getting spruced-up I went for a quick breakfast. 10:00am, we all met in the lobby to walk to the Instituto Chileno Norteamerico. Our walk was great because this was our first real view of a part of Santiago. The Instituto was super cold, but Allyson made the teacher training activities engaging and very informative. By 2pm we were all ready for lunch, besides we were freezing cold!

Some of the girls and I accompanied Allyson to a little Cafe that served us scrumptious chilean style salads. The salads and the fresh lime drink with mint herb was so tasty! To top it off, I had herb tea while others had expresso coffee.

Exactly at 3:05pm we started our half hour walk to the U.S. Embassy. I could not risist taking pictures as we traveled. By now it was 4pm as we waited outside the doors of the security checkpoint. Our WT teacher group had been invited by the U.S. Embassy for a meeting with the Citizen's Services Director Lee. The excitement to be at the Embassy also added to the joy.

The U.S. Embassy building is very large in area space. The fence has a look of sleekness with the mauve color marble all over its surface. Security is tight which I was glad to see. Inside we were greeted by Marcela who is our main contact person while in Chile. Another security procedure and in we went to our meeting room.

Director Lee was kind enough to give us the do's and don'ts as visitors in general. Marcela and Diana, both from the same office division, wanted to know more about each of us before delving into giving their advise. I really appreciated the fact that Marcela wants us to contact her when we finally know our school placements.

Once the Embassy meeting ended, our group walked back to the hostel to change out of our dressy clothe. We relaxed for a short time. I continued blogging to catch up on the details of my journey. Shortly, all 11 of us walked to a Peruvian restaurant where some wanted to try out the pisco sour. From about 8:30 to 10:30pm we enjoyed our free time meal. Of course, a good thing always has to end at some point but it will continue at another date.

11pm abouts we came back to the hostel. Some hit the sack others continued the gathering chats.

On Chilean Soil

Day 3 Wednesday 5am Finally arrived in Santiago Chile airport.

The next hour were spent paying the entrance fee and picking up our luggage. This is how it went for us. We walked to the immigration booths, from there we were sent to pay the entrance fee first before stamping our passport. Well, the process to pay was lengthy because the American $20 bills could not be wrinkled nor have any small tears. Two of our girls had to pay with credit card since the rest of us had no other unwrinkled bills to trade with them.

The second step was for us to go back to the immigration booth and show the payment slip, get the entrance stamped on our passports, then head out to the baggage claim. Once we took our luggage, we went through their TSA (strict about animal and vegetable foods items) and out the curb to our transportation van.


Yeah, we made it out by 6:25am Wed! Yes, the day will continue.

Allyson is our group director and Jesse her part-time assistant. We all packed into two vans and headed to the hostel in Santiago (16 kms). The highrises were beautiful to see as the cold crisp air welcomed us with a bite. OMG! It is COLD. No snow, but cold, cold, cold. As we arrived at the hostel the road was under construction allowing us to use our muscles to lug the suitcases up the street.
7:30am After a mini-meeting with a rearrangement of room (three per room), we gladly started the process of unbundling our clothes. Most of us quickly used the lobby computer to email home. There will be a few hours breaktime before a noon group lunch.

12:30 Allyson came with some delicious empanadas while we eat and meet.

Later a group of us went to get a local cell phone, some gloves, etc.

4pm Another meeting. 6pm Quick break.

7:30pm Chilean Spanish Class

Certainly one of my goals is to learn the dialect spoken in Chile. Our group was divided into beginner and intermediate/advance. Our professor is a Chilean teacher. I will write more about him and our classes as the days continue.

9PM Our day has ended.

Beginning the Adventure Journey

Day 1 July 12, Monday
AWAY WE GO! My friend Gina and I spent various hours rearranging my two luggages. What an ordeal it seemed to level them to 44 lbs each. We even took them to weigh at the Publix supermarket just to be on the safe side. Soon, we were on our 5hour car ride on Florida's Turnpike for my stay over in Miami.

Met Hannah from Seattle and went to have an awesome Cuban dinner. No coffee, please... The rest of night was spent in chit-chat with Hannah. Goodbye Gina, see ya when I come back.

Day 2 July 13, Tuesday

Slept like babies, showered, and got ready to check out. Now let me have some Cuban coffee and a hearty breakfast..... Hannah and I were feeling the anticipation as we arrived at the Miami airport for a group meeting. Okay, I admit the butterflies were in my stomach as I realized that truly I would be on my way to Chile.


2pm One by one we (Hannah and I) arrived. I met Katie from Virginia , Ryan from Pennsylvania, Maureen from Chicago, and from California were Kristy, Lauren and Stephanie. Later Roman from Boston arrived just in time for boarding. Jen and Grace also from Califorinia arrived later.

5pm Off we go...
What a surprise to have a meal in an airplane flight these days! Great mashed potatoes with spinach, meat with baby carrots, and a dessert.

7:30pm arrived in Colombia, Bogota Airport
Arrival on time and soon I'll be drinking Colombian coffee. What was most notable seeing at the airport were several sniffing dogs and a lot of perfume shops spraying us as we passed by. Many, many policias (police).

While we waited for the other flight our fingers pounded on our computer keyboards because we had no cell phone reception. We board in half an hour, got to get coffee before go. Umm, I can now say I've had true Colombian coffee in Colombia.

10:00pm
Boarding Avianca, will arrive in Chile at 5am on Wednesday.

Could not sleep on the plane. We did have a delicious meal of chicken with noodles, salad and peach juice. In the meantime, did some computer writing and some resting. Really should of brought myself a book to read.