Teaching on Earth Day

I had the fortune of being invited to teach a mini-lesson in my co-worker and friend, Julie's adult ESL class recently and the day of the lesson happened to fall on Earth Day, so I decided to go with it and make that my theme. I found that I really enjoy teaching about protecting the Earth and sharing ideas with others. I wanted to share some of the students' ideas with you here on my blog.

Ever since I went to Ecuador this last time (a quick but delightful trip) in March, I've been looking into different teaching certificate and Masters programs in the area. I'm interested in teaching Spanish and English as a second or foreign language in the public schools and possibly at the community college level. I have wanted to learn more about bilingual education for many years now and I'm excited to finally be pursuing this interest. I feel lucky because I currently work in a community college and if I study in a program that is state-supported, I can study for free through the tuition waiver program! I have been collecting a lot of information about the different teaching programs in the area and how to become endorsed or certified in ESL/ELL/EFL, Spanish and Bilingual Education. I plan to put all of this information on my blog as well, because I have found it more difficult than I had first imagined to find basic information about studying to become a language teacher north of Seattle.

But first, I'd like to share some of what my dear friend, co-worker and travel companion, Julie's Level 3 (beginning-intermediate) adult ESL students wrote about Earth Day and what they do to protect the environment. I found what they wrote very inspiring and it gave me hope to read about what they are already doing. They also had wonderful, simple ideas for helping the Earth. I'm going to leave what they wrote as is, with grammar and spelling errors and all, for authenticity purposes. (Some students may have used those little electronic translators to write their sentences. It's quite obvious.)

"I usually go to the market with my mom to buy food and I use my bag to put on it"

"If my son buys soft drink, he always throws can or bottle in the Recycle."

"I never thow the garbage into ocean or in rivers"

"My family and me recycle at home, all the time."

"I turn off the light, when I don't need it."

"I usually take the bus to work everyday."

"My husband goes to work with 3 of his friends."

"I buy food in bulk 1-2 times per month to reduce packaging"

"I separate glass, plastic bottles, aluminum, and paper from the garbage everyday."

"I throws my new papers in the recycle."

"My husband throws the food container in the garbage every day."

"I shall take away rubbish from apart recycle"

"is very important for the future for our descendant have a good enveroment conmingle garbaje what can back used as: glass, paper, carboard, bottles, plastic, bag an box"

"too no utilize (Detergentes o soap) what is no good for the contamination of sea aqua, lakes and low floor, do no utilize car for go to a localities close."

"My children and I pick up the garbage in my yard every weekend"

"I drink beer then put it in bottles in Recycle Box."

"...we are totaly vegitarian and our all food is organic..."

"My mother-in-law through garbage with carefully. She sought out it beautiful way-cardboard, waste bottles, batteries, and all waste material throughs in Recycle dustbin."

"my aunt plants tree and any plants (flowers) every year."

"my grandfather very like eat onion, dill and more vegetebels for his garden."

"I buy organic, eggs and milk every two weeks...My husband buys organic fish."

"I plant vegatables every spring."

"I buy something incide more plastic bag and put those bags in the garbage"

"My son drink milk in bottles every day."

"I buy new paper "Time" every day, my husband reads and puts it in the recycle."

"I buy organic fruit and I'm separate carboard and garbage...I'm refuse to use plastic bag...I trying to use as little water as I can and I plants tomatoes and tomatillos strawberres cucumbers"

"I put the can and box, bottles and I separate paper, and grass, I never throw paper on the way."


Some of these really make me smile, but I was so impressed by all the creative things the immigrant and refugee students are doing to help the environment. I hope to help out in Julie's class again before the end of the quarter. They were really fun to work with and very enthusiastic!

Awakening the Dreamer--Changing the Dream!

Recently I attended an amazing, awe-inspiring workshop called "Awakening the Dreamer, Changing the Dream" at my workplace on a special day dedicated to building community. The workshop was created by the Pachamama Alliance, originally inspired by the Achuar people in Ecuador and later continued by a group of people from across the globe who inspire others to work toward environmental sustainability, social justice and spiritual fulfillment. I would like to work on reducing my global/carbon footprint and on inspiring others to the same.

Environmental Sustainability:

• My first plan is to somehow get a composting bin for my workplace and if possible, for my home. So far I haven't heard back from the recycling guy at my work, so I need to contact someone else.


• My second plan is to not buy new things as often. For example, I have started buying clothes at consignment stores, not department stores.


• I support organic farming by receiving organic fruit and vegetable deliveries twice a month from Full Circle Farm in Carnation, WA (check out the Full Circle website to sign up) .

Social Justice:

• My current work as an advisor in providing almost free English classes to immigrants and refugees so that they can feel empowered in the community and obtain better jobs here in the U.S. is part of my fight for social justice.


• I also attended a workshop recently on the New Paradigms of Social Justice, facilitated by Theryn Kigvamasud'Vashti and hosted by the Northshore/Shoreline Community Network and CARE (Cultural Awareness Resources and Education) Team. We created a quilt which represented what social justice means to each of us. (The picture of the quilt is above.)
  

Spiritual Fulfillment:

• I take joy in being outside and I enjoy hearing the birds sing, watching the squirrels climb up trees, feeling the breeze in my hair, smelling the lilacs in bloom, touching the soft pussy willows before they turn into beautiful pink flowers.


• Currently I'm reading a great, short book by John Perkins called The Stress-Free Habit which explains how people around the world meditate and I plan to try meditation soon. First I have to figure out a good time and place.

I will continue updating this blog with more ideas for nurturing our relationship with the Earth, with Others and with Ourselves.