Thursday, December 8, 2011

Progressive ESL Teachers: teaching without classrooms

Photo courtesy of Remain L.A.
 Over the past 4 months I have had the opportunity to study several of the great contributors to education. Among them is the well known Paulo Freire who criticized traditional teaching methods such as the banking method which focus on teacher centered education. Back in Korea while I was teaching ESL, my classrooms were beautiful and the YBM facilities were well kept. A flat screen TV was usually available at any time and our rooms had modern glass walls that connected us to the outside world.  I could never have imagined teaching without such a well equipped classroom. That is, not until I read an article about teachers in Guatemala bringing their classrooms to wherever the students were located.

In the article titled, "In Guatemala: School is where the children are" I learned about teachers that were providing education for young children at their parents mercados and merchant stands during the day. Without any access to education, these children were usually found working alongside their parents trying to make enough money for daily necessities. Inspired by the ideas of Paulo Freire, a program was created to teach these children how to read and write bringing them hopes of succeeding in their growing society. The program did so all while getting support from the parents of the children.

The article which supports humanitarian education in a poor Central American Country is not far from home as such educational opportunities are happening right here in the United States. A blog Remain L.A. wrote about an ESL teacher in Los Angeles that holds ESL classes in a Home Depot parking lot. English Teacher Finds an Unexpected Classroom shows the struggle of immigrant workers in the United States fighting for literacy. When teacher Virginia Trujillo's high school English class was cut, she found herself teaching English as a Second Language to immigrant workers at Home Depot to help persuade the L.A. school district for further funding. Her fight for funding was successful, but she will always remain teaching outside of the classroom in MacArthur Park for those that want to join her class.

Education is the first step in the fight to end poverty. The next time one of my white board markers runs out of ink while teaching a class, I'll have nothing to complain about.

If you have any questions or comments about "Progressive ESL Teachers: teaching without classrooms" please leave them in the comment box below or email goneseoulsearching@gmail.com

Creative Commons License
  Gone Seoul Searching by Marie Webb is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at goneseoulsearching@gmail.com.

3 개의 댓글:

daniellaprice30 said...

I salute ESL teachers because they're like private tutors but they do intensive teaching. I once did ESL teaching and it's very satisfying once I realize that my students learn something from me.

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Robert said...

As a progressive ESL teacher myself, I find the concept of teaching without traditional classrooms incredibly empowering! Embracing innovative approaches allows us to meet students where they are, fostering a more inclusive and personalized learning experience. Whether it's through online platforms, community centers, or even outdoor settings, the possibilities are endless. Let's continue breaking barriers with scholarshi phive and creating meaningful connections with our students beyond the confines of a physical classroom!

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Creative Commons License
Gone Seoul Searching by Marie Webb is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at goneseoulsearching@gmail.com.
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