It's been an interesting week here in Concepción. It seems like a lot has happened in just a few days and I realized today on the bus ride home that I'm now looking at the city differently than I did last week. I've once again been humbled in terms of how tiny we all are in the scheme of things. My little native English speaker footprint pales in comparison to efforts of other Chileans who have worked for years to build English programs and get students excited about speaking English.

But first, let me back up. This week started like any other. Four classes on Monday, spinning class in the evening, onces with my family. That night I checked my email and received a response (finally!) for a volunteer position at San Agustín, a grade school (Pre-kinder-12). A prof at Duoc also teaches at San Agustín and in the email simply told me to meet her at the school on Tuesday for a tour and to meet teachers. I arrived on Tuesday not expecting to be there long. Wrong. I was there almost four hours. It was such a different environment compared to Duoc. Immediately the teachers were all introducing themselves, asking about my family here, my Spanish, etc. It caught me a little off guard when the school principal, who I met moments earlier, introduced me to the entire staff at the start of the weekly meeting. (1. I had no idea I'd arrived at the weekly staff meeting, 2. I had no idea they'd be so welcoming and excited to have a volunteer). After the meeting, I had a handful of schedules in front of me and teachers vying for my time--turns out I'm going to work with 1st, 2nd and 3rd graders twice a week. :) After working with high school students last fall and University age students now, I was ecstatic. 40 little balls of energy yelling "Miss!" "Miss!" I'm thinking I may need a cup (or 3) of real coffee before I go to 1A, 2B, and 3A...

As I sat in the Sala de Profesores (Teacher's Lounge), drinking Nescafé and eating pastries, bread, honey etc., taking in the new environment, the teachers also informed me of the annual Concepción English spelling bee. It just happened to be today, Thursday. "Oh, how wonderful. can you come this Thursday and be a judge?," they ask. "Well...sure. What time?" "Oh, all day long. It starts at 9am and will go all day but whatever you can do will be appreciated," she tells me. My first hint at what could end up being volunteer-overkill. On and on the conversation went until finally I left school.

Anyway, I got there this morning at 9am sharp. For the next hour and a half I helped set up. I put up (random!) posters in English. Some of the most notable were Ben Franklin and Mother Teresa next to a poster saying, "adverbs! they describe how actions are done!" I arranged chairs and cut out makeshift numbers for the contestants. I watched as the students arrive, all in slightly different uniforms and the murmur grew to a roar. Finally, we were ready to go. But not without a song by Shakira. Yes, the Concepción 1st-12th grade spelling bee opened with "Underneath your clothes," by Shakira. holla.

This is where it gets interesting. The very makeshift jury-no prior experience necessary-begins with the first word. After a couple practice rounds, the kids get the hang of it and we were on our way. Then it was my turn to recite words and say "correct," or "incorrect." There were only a few students left at this point. I was doing just fine, or so I thought, providing students with definitions or an example sentence. After a few minutes, there were just two left. The word was, "Western." I said it, used it in a sentence, "John Wayne stars in many Western movies," but the kid didn't get it. Bueno, done. Other kid wins, right? 

Turns out, after the contest a teacher comes up to the jury and tells me that the students don't understand my accent. My English accent. She said that I shouldn't recite anymore and let the other Chileans do so. In other words, this was a complete reversal of the idea of my presence in the school. The point of having an American is to hear the native accent and hear fluent English. I completely understand that the student didn't understand me because half the time when I speak here, I get a blank stare even though in my mind I'm speaking Spanish correctly. I started to question my presence there. Chileans constantly gush over how beautiful native English sounds yet at the moment when it becomes challenging, they revert to Chilean English. 

I've seen this time and again in the past two months. Students switching out of "gringo-taught" classes because it's too hard. Cheating instead of asking questions or participating. Or just plain ditching class. It's frustrating as a teacher to see them give up or seek the back door without ever making an effort to learn the material. I always tell my students, "I have to be in Spanish class 24/7. You guys are only here for 90 minutes. Speak English!!" Needless to say, I need to find a new tactic. Suggestions welcome :)

The best part of all was that all the teachers were surprised and bummed I had to leave. I left at one; four hours of sitting in the freezing cold basement auditorium was enough for me. 

As I said in the beginning, it has been an eye-opening week. I see how desperately necessary English is here. In the words of the director to the students, "With English, you can do anything." I constantly think of how lucky I am to have opportunity to travel, drive my own car, attend college etc., but I never really internalized that even my own language, my natural mode of communication, is a very valuable source of social capital. 

Wow. This is long. I really need to start grading...

All in all, it's been a good week. Different than those past, but definitely good. I'm excited to start working with the little kiddos soon! As for now, I'm wrapped up in my cozy blanket, periodically stoking the stove with wood and enjoying a strong cup of coffee settling in to grade midterms. woot. Tonight, I'm going to the best place in town, "La Fuente Aleman," with my mom and brother for my first completo experience. (Hot dog with avacado, mayo and ketchup). Doesn't it just make your stomach growl?? 

Chao from my little room in Chile. :)