As an Elementary Education major, one of the decisions you have to make is what endorsement you will attach to your degree to make you more marketable upon graduation. Now, I've had a love for history for years…but I also knew that I was planning on teaching out of the country eventually so I had to decide between getting a history concentration or an English as a Second Language endorsement. I eventually decided it was smarter to go for the ESL one and have never regretted my decision since. During this month, I am finally taking my last course in ESL before I get my endorsement which feels amazing. We are required to do what is called a practicum (like student teaching) where we both observe lessons and teach at least 3 lessons ourselves to English Language Learners. The funny part is that I was actually in and ESL class for my literacy practicum which all Elementary Ed majors have to do as well so I have had a good amount of time with these kids who are English Language Learners.
Now, I got accepted to the World Race about a month ago and I was really excited (of course). But the amazing thing is that I had no idea what God had in mind for me over this summer. Not only am I getting this great opportunity to work with ELL students, I am working with newcomers from Somalia and Burma (who have been living in Thailand's refugee camp). These kids have just come to the USA within the last two years. But not only that, they are coming from areas where I am either going or at least close to where I am going in only less than a year! I was shocked when I found out I had been placed with these kids because it just felt like God had been planning all of this. How else would it have worked out so perfectly?
Even though not all of these kids are from places that I will be visiting (as far as I know) on the race, I can't help but think how much this could help me prepare in some way at least for interacting with the people I will meet along the way. It is making me more and more excited to experience their cultures. I am constantly asking how to say one thing or another in their language just to practice learning other languages. Who knows….it could come in handy.
You know, I was worried for a short time about joining the race instead of going into teaching right away because I didn't want to come back and find myself not getting a job teaching simply because I have been out of the classroom for so long. But now as I am in this newcomers class for a month, I am realizing just how much the race could be extremely beneficial to me in the teaching field. Not only will I probably end up teaching somebody something along the way, I will also gain so much experience and knowledge about other cultures that can be very benefical to a teacher in an American school.
I tell ya, it's funny the way God works sometimes. He has completely calmed my nerves about that exact issue and made me even more excited for the race because of this experience I am involved with now.
Oh, and not only that but I also get to teach their parents too on Friday mornings as another opportunity for this ESL class. WOW GOD! You are amazing!
P.S. I would totally appreciate it if you would pray for me and my students during this month. As I find out more about each one of them, I am realizing how hard their lives have been in the short amount of time they have been on earth. Each one is near and dear to my heart already. I am absolutely loving getting to know them. Pray that they will be able to learn what I try to teach them this month and that I learn many things from them as well. Their names are (Abdullahi, Abdirman, Abdihamed, Abdinasir, Rosimar Bee, Hay Beh Lah, MaGaySay, Mohamed, Mu Meh, and Ismail).
I'll be attaching some video soon so that you can see them all. They are all so sweet!
