Ahh yes, Panama, the gorgeous sand beaches and amazing foods all in the heart of Latin America! It was here I first travelled by myself, meeting up with 3 strangers who had the same goal in mind. Although I came for an exchange trip at Hospital Nacionale in Panama City, I actually had the pleasure of hosting a handwashing workshop for families of ill children who were staying at the Ronald McDonald House Charities. It was here I first realized that the communication and language barrier wasn't so challenging because of different methods that can be used to communicate.
Only one of us spoke fluent Spanish, but universal gestures for personal hygiene, include scrubbing hands, keeping dirty hands away from the mouth, and eating lots of fresh fruits and vegetables to keep yourself healthy. I even played Simon Dice (Simon Says) in Spanish to solidify the understanding of parts of the body that we should keep clean and away from the mouth. Although these were adult learners who spoke a completely different language, they were open to learning, communicating with a foreigner using a different medium. We also drew posters and shared healthy snacks, being cognizant of the equity barrier that many Panamanian families have to getting access to fresh fruits and vegetables. This experience definitely gave me renowned confidence in myself to teach ELLs in the classroom as emotions, gestures, and body language can say a lot to everyone.
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AuthorHola from Panama! Thanks for taking the time to read about my journey. I hope you can take something from my experiences and share yours in return. Don't be shy! ArchivesCategories |