Latino Language, Pedagogy and Culture Immersion Institute in Puerto Rico

08/04/09

Spanish class is intriguing and extremely relevant. Spanish is spoken 90% of the time, which allows for practical application, a necessary and important learning tool. We are allowed to discuss any topics we have of interest, while always learning a fundamental piece of the language. I wish more of my Spanish classes in college would have been similar in style, as I have seen a more rapid growth here. A few of my favorite conversations from the intermediate class have been on: religion (especially Santaria,) music (types and dances,) and the public and private school systems here. It has also been interesting to watch the interaction with her 12 year old son. She has been an excellent representation and model as a mother and educator.

After Spanish class both yesterday and today, we were greeted by a beautiful surprise, Bernadette. Bernadette has had the pleasure of working in both Pennsylvania and Puerto Rico, and is a native to this pleasant island. She is a highly educated woman and a strong, interesting speaker. The two days were separated into two topics: School Dynamics and The Puerto Rican Culture.

While listening to her speak about School Dynamics, some very interesting points were brought to the surface. The topic on Instructional Strategies intrigued me the most. As an educator wanting to address every students needs, it is important to understand how culture affects children's lives. The part that brought meaning to the entire conversation the most was the last bulletin. It stated "Failure to recognize diversity within groups can result in stereotyping families and developing preconceptions that reduce opportunities for cross-cultural understanding and competence." Wow, such a strong, yet brutally honest statement. This was also completely accurate for the second days lecture. While discussing the existence of racism on the island, it was hard to believe the prejudices they have against their own people.

Tonight on our search to find food, we encountered an incident you would not typically see in the United States. A restaurant simply was not serving food this evening because the cook did not show up. I have worked at several restaurants and have never seen such a thing. The restaurants also run out of items frequently. I could not tell you how many times I have asked for either avocado or mushrooms, and they were always out. It is important to be flexible in all situations, as you never know what situation may rise next. The last little information about food, make sure you eat before 11 pm. It is almost impossible to find food past then, even though the bars close much later. This to some people could be a deadly combination.

Tomorrow we will be visiting a vocational high school. We have all formed a vision of what this will be like, based almost entirely on all the discussions we have had surrounding the public education system. As we near the end of the trip, suitcases are being packed and mixed feelings are erupting. I always hate endings, especially after establishing yourself inside another culture. It is time to start preparing for departure, which in my book means making the most of what little is left :)