We are nearing the end of a wonderful experience here in Costa Rica. I´ve spent the last week working at San Ambrosia as well as with Anna, from the National Park Service. On Tuesday, I went to Filedelfia with Anna to a public school to assist in teaching the kids about the severely endangered Jabiru Stork. We along with a couple others from the National Park Service gave a three hour presentation to a group of fifth and sixth graders. Now that the students have completed the course they will be able to go to Palo Verde to observe many different kinds of wildlife including the Jabiru and crocodiles.
It was a bittersweet week at San Ambrosia, knowing it would be our last full week with the students. I continued teaching English with Harold and working with Diego mainly on the garden. My seventh graders surprised me yesterday with a going away party at one of my student´s houses out in the country. He lives on a farm where I got to ride horses and watch the cattle being ¨rounded up.¨
Its been a life changing experience to work with the students at San Ambrosia and I cannot yet fully realize the impact this experience will most likely have on my future. I know I repeat myself each blog in saying the students are so much fun to work with. They are always motivated to learn, especially English which amazes me everyday.
The structure of the classroom is much more relaxed and at times lessons are spontaneous. However, without so much structure the students seem to learn just as much as in the classrooms back home, if not learn more at times. Maybe some reevaluation by teachers and administrators of how classrooms are run in the US would be worth the time. In a way it could relate to the inquiry based classroom we are trying to achieve in the sciences- we´ll see.
Well Hasta Luego, Costa Rica- Thank you for a wonderful adventure!
The 7th Graders at my surprise going away party!
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Rainbow after the rain.
