If you are a rare avid reader of this then you know how due to exams I have off school (not being able to understand Finnish and all so very well leads to this) And if you know me personally, I can't just do nothing. This wonderful equation leads to me ending up teaching English and telling about the USA at a local elementary school.
I taught last week and then today (which is Monday.) By the end of today, the students gave me high fives and hugs. That was super duper awesome.
Now I wasn't able to take photos of the children (lapset, for those few who are crazy enough to want to learn Finnish) due to the privacy policy. Don't fret though! I took photos of what the school itself looks like. It has art and is very open. The lapset here learn to be independent from an early age, by first grade they walk to school alone.
I talked to tons of classes about what the united states is about and who I am. I answered questions and was forced to use my terrible Finnish. The children were eager to help me learn though. They would laugh and then carry on. It was a good environment for me to learn as well. I now notice an improvement since the kids worked with me.
So some stuff about the school:
- each class is 45 min long with a 15-30 min break between each one. This is when the children go run and play outdoors. These kids were out there playing when it was raining or super cold. They teach the children to be tough and to dress smart. I was freezing. I learned my lesson.
- Classes start at a different time each day and is different for each "class" of children
- lunch is given by the government
- The children learn manners here as well- how to hold your knife and fork, washing your hands, being quiet, standing in lines. It is unbelievable how well mannered these kids are and they are still able to be children.
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| Tea in the teachers lounge... since I am a teacher. |
The students were able to ask my any questions about the states or of me, these are my favorite:
- Do you have a boy friend? (the student then proceeds to look at the male teacher which came in the room to watch the presentation, he did the eye brow wave)
- Do you have children?
- Is that really your name?
- Do you like dog?
- What is your favorite *insert any noun* ?
Some of the most random things came out of there mouths also
- When I showed the American flag a kid yelled out "Afghanistan" That made me think.
- This one kid was just saying words to me like "Lamp" and "so"
- Another one whenever he saw me ever, he would yell and or whisper USA.
- My host sister was in one of my classes and she told the class that I like maps.
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| All the children were taught to wash their hands before entering the lunch room |
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| The hall ways were colorful and the children are not aloud to wear shoes indoors due to the mess that would be created come winter. The result is a bunch of little nuggets sliding around on socks. It was precious. |
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| the lunch room from above |
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| four level school = lots of stairs |
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| view of a 15 min break. On my first day a bunch of little kids took me out to teach me how to play soccer. They chanted USA when I made a goal. They are so much better at the game then I am |
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| There was a lot of room for group learning. |
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| The coats all hung outside with the shoes. |
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| Getting ready to let my class come in! ah! I worked with another teacher of course.... |
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| I was called ah-na-lay by the children. |
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| Those shoes have red white and blue patterns on them... |
It was such a rewarding experience to teach them about who I am and they taught me so much, and not even just Finnish. They taught me that girls can play soccer just like the boys and that its okay to mess up. By the end of my time there the children all said hell when I passed and they waved when I left.
In each class we played the USA Anthem and they all stood and sang with me. When I was turning it off I heard singing coming from behind me. The students started to sing their national anthem for me. They sang for me and the smiles on their faces still warm my heart. After they stopped singing there was a silence and the children just looked at me and in that moment, I swear, no words could have conveyed the amount of understanding we had for each other.
I am so lucky for the teacher who let me come in and teach. I am so lucky for the children who taught me.
