PHILADELPHIA- WETHE PEOPLE

WE THE PEOPLE

It was about a 2-hour trip by coach from Washington DC to Philadelphia. No sooner had we arrived at the hotel that we went to the Education National Constitutional Centre.

As we approached its building, a march tune of the American Revolution could be heard from inside.

Here we learned from an enthusiastic young guide that Philadelphia is the most Historical place in US. It was the first state, the place where the constitution of US was written among other events. He took us to the second floor of the building and explained how American children are taught about their History. They have interactive screens, activities and a multimedia presentation on themes of the Constitution which can be downloaded. They have lots of online Teacher resources in their webpage: www.constitutioncenter.org/education

We were not allowed to take pictures except for the next one:

Me discussing constitutional matters

- In one part of the exhibit, there's a screen in which anyone can become the President of The US. Luis, the Argentinian, volunteered to be the president and so from then on we all call him Mr. President.

- We were all so tired from the coach trip that anybody could tell. I guess this picture shows it well.

Outside the National Constitution Center

Oklahoma!

OKLAHOMA PLAY

This has been one of the greatest shows I've ever seen. For many a person it's not usual to go to the theatre, some of the people in the group confessed it was their first time. I'm very glad that in Peru I was introduced to seeing plays by a beloved teacher at college, Mr. Rolando Rocha (I love you teacher!). I still remember the first time I went to the theatre and so I can guess how some of my partners felt. Plus, it was in English and that made it even more special and memorable.

None of us knew what to expect but were very excited about it. Believe me, all expectations were met and even exceeded! It was a beautifully performed musical.The cast was really out of this world. It's known pictures can't be taken so I only have one of the entrance to the theatre.

Luis and Rodrigo before entering the Theatre.

The play had a catchy song that I later learnt kids sing it at pre-school. Here is the lyrics:

Oh, what a beautiful morning,
Oh what a beautiful day,
I got a beautiful feeling,
Everything is going my way!

We all liked it so much that the tune and lyrics stayed in our minds for quite a long time.

I found this video on youtube; although it is quite old just pay attention to the chorus. You may find better videos.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kp5HCDGJsvM

Washington DC Wednesday 28th

Day: Wednesday 28th

Today everyhting may be of interest to all my friends who are in the field of Teaching English. So far, I could say it's been the most fascinating day. You may want to scroll down to the end where you'll find interesting links for ELT.
Meeting 1: TESOL Headquarter (Alexandria in Virginia)

www.tesol.org ("Convention"- "Community")

Befor this meeting I had the wrong impression that TESOL association was a dying movement. I think I was mislead by the fact that in Peru I've hardly heard from them except for one only event in July -August. However; after having met directly to the TESOL board, I'd like to share what I consider new:

- TESOL International Convention in US (known): If interested in giving a talk, you should submit your proposal before June 1st a year before the event.

- TESOL Academy: 1 to 2 per year in US - workshops

- Online Programmes:

- Certificate Programes ( Leadership Development Programme) (Principles and Practices of Online Teaching Certificate Programme) (TESOL Core Certificate Programme)

- Online Courses (4-6 week courses)

- TESOL Virtual Seminars (90 minute webcasts) (8-10 seminars a year)

- TESOL Resource Center

- TESOL Online discussions

Resources:

- books - TESOL Journal (known) - TESOL Quarterly (Research on ELT)

However; there is a catch: You access to all of this and more once you become a member. But the good thing is that as an individual you can only pay $35.00 a year by subscribing as a GME (Global Electronic Member) because the United Nations consider our country has a gross national income.

I personally think it's worth it so I'm doing it right away and let everybody know about all the things I find.

Before the next meeting we visited Albert Einstein.

Meeting 2: US Department of State: Office of English Language Programmes

Here things turned even more interesting.

- First, one of the officers in charge of the Forum Magazine let us know that they have FORUM in Facebook. So, join the group! Also that if anyone is interested in writing for this magazine, you can do it by sending your manuscript to etforum@state.gov. Of course, it will go through a thorough process before being published. And if any institution is interested in getting the FORUM we should contact the RELO in Peru, which is under the lead of Marcela Raffo in the US Embassy in Peru.

- Second, the next officer talked to us about E-teacher Programmes.

E - COURSES: I have to say that I participated in this programme with the University of Maryland and it is so well organised to assure the participants really achieve the goals. It consits of a 6 to 8-week course on line on ELT specific topics like Teaching English to Young Learners, Critical Thinking, Assessment, etc. The RELO nominates the participants for this programme.

WEBINARS: I know most Peruvian teachers receive an invitarion from ELTECS run by Cesar Klauer. You have to know that if you participate in all or most of them you get a certificate.

After these talks we were organised in four small groups: 1. EL Specialists Office - 2. Access Programme - 3. EL Fellow Programme - 4. EL Materials. Luckily, we all switched groups after some time.

1. EL Specialists Office: Specialists go to the country where the need is. In Peru we should all let know our RELO (Marcela Raffo) what needs we perceive in our classroom, institutions and especially our country.

2. Access Programme: I really learnt about it here from the other participants of the programme. As we all know, we have ICPNA in Peru and that's what they call Binational Centres in other countries so IGA (Instituto Guatemalteco Americano) IICANA ( Instituto de Intercambio Cultural Argentino Norte Americano) CBA (Centro Boliviano Americano) CVA ( Centro Venezolano Americano) Alianza Cultural Uruguayo Estado Unidense and so on are the ICPNA's around Latin America. If you know me, you all know how distant I've been to this institution since my experience with English is more with the British culture, not Britanico. Nevertheless; this Access Programme is for sure one of the best things the US Department of State is doing through this Binational Centres mostly. Just want to make clear it is the US Government, not ICPNA who sponsor the whole programme.

What's Access programme?
Here, the officer mainly asked what we thought about it and so I asked my partners about it a day later on our way to Philadelpia.

According to Rodrigo (Uruguay), Dulce (Mexico) and Luis( Argentina):

- A group of students aged 14 to 18 are chosen from public school in vulnerable areas in their countries. These students have to be the best in their schools. The Binational Centres estimate how much it would cost to teach English to these children. The Embassy, then, gives the budget to the institution and they work on the programme. For instance, in Cordova, Argentina there are 40 students who are doing the two-year programme. I may infer, that the more expensive the institutions estimate their numbers, the fewer students are benefited.

- These students are taught English and depending on the need of the group they may also be taught computing in English as it is in Mexico. Also, they have Enhacement activities (American Cultural activities) like celebrating Halloween as it is done in US.

- It would be great if after the two years, the Binational Centre itself decides to continue working with these students giving them a scholarship to continue their English studies or any kind of follow-up. My three friendly sources all agreed that two years is not enough.

Luis, Dulce and Rodrigo on our way to Philadelphia.

- It's been so rich to talk to them. I've been doing this on the coach while talking, laughing, eating and playing jokes. As 90% of us speak Spanish we did it in Spanish and Spanglish. It was so fun to learn how different we call the same things like 'chuleta' for the cheating paper, 'chanchullo' for the same thing in Bolivia, 'chepe' in Honduras, 'chivo' in Guatemala and in Peru? can you think of any similar word in Peru?

3. EL Fellow Programme: It's very similar to number 1. In Peru there is one fellow who will stay until November. If your Institution is interested in having her/him to assess or assist them contact our RELO.

4. EL Materials: I'm sure here many will find resourceful information:
  - In the Loop: a book of American Idioms which can be downloaded by chapters from:
http://exchanges.state.gov/englishteaching/resforteach/pubcat/classtext/alc/intheloop.html
  - Celebrate: a book about Holidays in US. Also, downloadable from:
http://exchanges.state.gov/englishteaching/resources-et/celebrate.html
  - American life and Institutions: for university students. This book should be bought throuhg the RELO.
  - Shaping the Way we Teach: A book for Teacher Trainers like my dear friend Magda. And yes, it can also be downloades from:
 http://exchanges.state.gov/englishteaching/resforteach/pubcat/teach-res-mat/teachtech/shapingway.html
  - Picture US: A set of A3colourful pictures about American life. This should be bought.
  - Wordscapes: A set of Cartoon pictures in which words are hidden. To be bought.
  - Sing out loud: A CD of classical children songs like Hockey Pockey. To be bought.


As you can see my friends, there's plenty to explore and use. I suggested the Officer (Material Writer) she try to have the set of Pictures digitalised to be used in PPT or interactive boards. I also told her Teachers could be asked to produce this through competitions or something alike. In case you want to contact her you can email to: gardyJA@state.gov   - Jacqueline Gardy. She was so open to receive suggestions and I'm sure she'd be glad to get some from yours as well.

Meeting 3: National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH)

This place is located in the Old Post Office Building and has the greatest view of Washington. Here Mrs. Christine Kalke, The Senior Analyst and International Coordinator gave us so much information that I'm sure you'll find useful.

- First you need to know that the main goal of this institution is: To Provide opportunities to US Non Profit Organisations to undertake projects in Humanities (Philosophy, History, Arts, Archeology and so forth).
Here is the list of websites she kindly informed us about:

- www.neh.gov (You'll find all on Humanities online)
- www.chroniclingamerica.loc.gov (Here all the newspapers have been digitalised up to 1922. What a hard job!)
- www.picturingamerica.neh.gov (Here you'll find pieces of art, mainly paintings, that tell you something about the life in America and that can perfectly be used for ELT)
- www.thirteen.org/picturing-america (You'll find videos about the paintings above mentioned.

Mrs. Kalke mentioned that in the Cultural Affairs Office in the US Embassy, they can give us some of the material or more information.
Finally we went up the building to have a great view of Washington DC.

(Capitol) Picture taken from the Old Post Office Building WDC

Well, I know this post has been more academic, but I'm sure many will find it serviceable. What happened at night? Have a look at the next post.

INTERNATIONAL VISITOR LEADERSHIP PROGRAMME

Great Experience in US

One day I was at the school where I work having fun with the students in an event we call `Interhouse' when I received a phonecall from the American Embassy in Peru asking me if I would be interested in travelling to the US. My immediate answer, of course, was yes, I am. Then everything started.

I am now in US having a whale of a time with wonderful people learning a lot from each other and from our host country. So this is the start of what I will call `Time for learning`.

Before the trip
- Eveyday life ate me up and did not let me see how near I was to the day of my departure. So, I did my luggage some hours before my plane took off. You can guess, I just dropped everything I found in the wardrobe into the only suitcase my dear husband bought for me one day before.
- Some friends, among them Erik, told me I should not take a camera since cameras in US may be cheaper and getting one there would be the best thing to do. Then, I did as told and that's why I don't have any pictures of these first two days in Washington.

The trip
- My lovely mom and dad went to the airport to see me off as well as my beloved husband. As they all know me very well insisted I had to be careful with my stuff. I've always been so absent minded and usually get into experiences not many people have. So, I promised to be careful and not to lose anything. .... However, something had to happen.

- My plane took off for US at about midnight on Firday 23rd and was to arrive to Miami at about 5:30am next day. I had a good meal at American Airlines plane and fell asleep at about 3:00am. I still remember I was dreaming about me at home having a wonderful meal my mom cooked.The next thing that happened is that I heard a voice saying `Madam! madam!" When I opened my eyes I saw a chubby American customer officer looking at me with disbelief that I was the only one on the plane. Everybody had left, even the crew!!! He asked me to follow him and so I went after him still thinking I was dreaming. The customer told everybody we met in our way I was found on the plane alone and all the workers at the airport couldn't believe it.When I finally realised what had happened, I was already at the immigration customer VIP line. ..That was good! No long queues!!..

-Here I have to say that didn't feel so proud of being Peruvian. All the crew were Peruvians and I met them before leaving the airport very happy and totally oblivious of what had taken place on their plane. But that's not why I felt proudless (if that exists). When the officer told them they had left me on the plane, each of them started blaming it entirely on me saying things like:
  - "I'm sure she was not sitting but lying"
  - "She surely took sleeping pills"
  - "She must have been drunk"
  - and some other murmuring I could not make out, luckily.

- The customer officer was so shocked by their responses that told me not to pay attention and not to answer back because it was all their fault and surely some, if  not all of them, would be fired. They never said sorry or showed sympathy to such unfortunate event. Is it a Peruvian characteristic or is it just them?  What do you think?

- Well I'm now in my room in the hotel excited to get photos wiht my new camera soon.