Soooo I realized that I never actually explained to most of you what exactly it is I´m doing here... but only because before a week ago all I really knew was that I would be teaching English in Santiago.... and nothing more! So now that I know I didn´t take an expensive 12 hr flight to find out my program is actually not ligit and the imfamous voice on the phone telling me I could spend 6 months in Chile is a real person, heres the deal:
So, I am teaching for Duoc University (http://www.duoc.cl/), which is the largest university in Chile with 9 campus total, 6 around Santiago. My campus is San Carlos which is in an area of the city called Los Condes. Los Condes is in the very very end of the city, so right beyond the campus is just mountains, so although it will be a little of a commute I´m thinking its well worth it for the view. The area is more upper-class residential with a fun shopping area, etc.
I got this job through a program called TeachingChile, run by an American man who decided to move his life to Santiago 4 years ago, having no clue what he would be doing. After volunteering with the Ministry of Education he wrote a proposal to them to create this program and alas I am here.
My training is with a wonderful Venezuelan man who grew up in England named Ivan, who works for Duoc. The training is for TeachingChile people and three other similiar programs. Duoc started using native English speakers in 2002 when they hired 3 people and this year there are 50 total. Everyone is friendly with each other during training and breaks etc but of course there are little groups between the different programs, and thats fine with my because TeachingCHile is where all the cool people are at. And I am lucky that out of the 7 people teaching at my campus, 5 of us are TeachingChile, 2 being two of my five roomates.
Duoc gives us all free housing for the first month, in Hotel Londres, which is beautiful from the outside but a little ghetto inside. But I love it. We have three connected rooms, mine at the end with the bathroom attached. I have a big window leading to a little courtyard where the staff hang out and blast loud Chilean music at random hours... and by random hours I mean when I´m trying to sleep.
Yesterday and today I have my practicum, where I go into a middle and high school and teach a class. Yesterday I had 8th graders and 12th graders and it was the greatest experience ever. They were beyond adorable and I loved it. One of the 8th grade girls even recognized me from MTV... or so she thought! Off to teach my two classes today.....
About Me
- Marina Byquist
- Hello and Hola to those who don't know me! I'm currently the International Admissions Counselor at Principia College. I love to travel, meet new people, and do anything adventurous where all LEARN. If you have questions/input about the Philippines, please share! I'm excited for the continued progress with our world-wide CS movement.
3 comments:
HAAAA! about the girl thinking you were on MTV. When I visited one of Matthew's classes in China, some of the girls were like, "Do you know Nick?" (In worse English I'm sure.) So I was totally weirded out-- how did they know one of my best friends is named Nick?! But then they said "Backstreet" or something and I realized they meant Nick Lachey. Yes, I do know Nick....
This is really coo Marina. It sounds extremely exciting. In the beginning i was beyond confused because i didn't know what they heck you were doing. But now that you have explained it, it sounds even better then before. You have to update us on how your teaching was. That mtv thing is hilarious.
I'm just finishing up my app with teachingchile. its cool to hear that things are working out for you! good deal. i was wondering if you have any sort of experience/certification? because i definitely don't, and am wondering if its necessary to get the sweet deal you got. well, the positive stuff is awesome to read.
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