A La (Nueva) Escuela

Although teaching is never the main focus of our trip, we all agree that exposing Peruvian children to a culture apart from their own (at the very least) and gaining knowledge of the English language (our ultimate goal) is time well spent.

This year, Dr. Ivan suggested that we visit a new boarding school – where Peruvian children advanced in learning are specially placed in – to consider teaching there.

Unlike boarding schools in the United States, however, being wealthy is not a qualification necessary to attend. Instead, the school is part of a government-funded program intended to maintain the ancestral identity and cultural richness of the region as well as forge ahead by implementing non-traditional subjects and a more immersive curriculum than the norm. Since the students live on-site, school days are longer with more breaks, and there's an opportunity for continuing the education after hours.

The school itself is perched atop a lofty slope on the outskirts of town,
with a breathtaking view of Lake Titicaca from every classroom window.

"Institución Educativa Primaria Intercultural en Puno" derives its name from a multilingual and multicultural teaching philosophy. The motivation behind this approach is to respect the indigenous traditions of the Quechua and Aymara people by teaching their languages and understanding their customs, while simultaneously taking a progressive outlook on the students' future by teaching English in addition to the standard Spanish language.

One phrase in four languages (Aymara, Quechua, Spanish, and English)
illustrates the multilingual teaching philosophy.

After considering this philosophy – in addition to an impressive school director, a faculty that genuine seems to care about its students, and the immediate interest and eagerness of the students – we decided to commit a couple hours twice a week to teaching. However, because of past struggles with the younger grades, we decided to agree to teaching only the older students.

The Director accepts a gift of toothbrushes and toothpaste for his students.

Erin is flying solo, teaching English to the sixth graders, while the tag teams of Melissa with Jon  and Clare with David are teaching English to fifth and fourth graders respectively. Ken is easing the load on all of us by taking a select group of students from each grade who show advanced math skills, and gives them different techniques to try out and problems to work on.

Examples of lesson plans that we've used include BINGO to learn numbers, singing songs like "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes" to learn parts of the body, and drawing family trees to learn the vocabulary for relatives. The math breakout sessions focus on a visual method for multiplication tables that is both challenging and enjoyable.

For the most part, the students have been well behaved, respectful, and enthusiastic about learning. Every day the kids run up and hug us, ask us to play soccer, and inquire about what life is like in the United States. The faculty also seems to enjoy our presence. The gym teacher has sat in on English classes to improve his already impressive language skills and some of the teachers formed a team and invited us to play against them in a staff volleyball game.

We will continue our work at the school until a two week break for Peruvian Independence is observed. Depending on our other projects, we will return to the school after this holiday.

[Written by David Riva | Photos by Erin Wiley and David Riva]