Forum reply 4
To: Polina
Polina, thank you for sharing a link to the video clip! I watched it and it is so scary. It shows what a vulnerable position “The other” learner might be in.
I can give one example which is a parallel of what you found in a song. Last year at work we had an English Curriculum Specialist from the USA, and we were so happy, eagerly looking forward to learning from her and showing her beauty of our country. On her first seminar she presented to us how to teach “going to”, a topic from Starter-Elementary level, which all of our teachers know very well. Moreover, she demonstrated a lesson based on 4 people although our groups vary from 16 to 25 students in each class. The worst thing was when in the middle of the seminar she said, “Do you understand me? Do you have intellectual ability (brains) to understand what I said?”. I replied that we understand what she teaches us, but it was such a humiliation, exactly what Nigel is experiencing in the clip. We (teachers) did not expect to hear such words from the trainer and out of politeness and in order not to spoil the relationship with the US embassy, we swallowed it silently. The trainer has two PhDs: PhD in Education and the highest degree in medicine, travelled all over the world, but did not learn the basic thing of respecting a human being. So, for her, learners from developing countries are “The other”, creatures without brains.
Post-reflection: Teachers, students, administration forget to think about what "the other" learner feels and here empathy is vital in understanding the feelings of each other.
Forum reply 5
To: Alejandra
Dear Alejandra, I really enjoyed reading your response. First of all, it is well-written. Secondly, it is touching. I admire your perseverance that despite all obstacles and prejudices related to age for learning a musical instrument, you became a professional violinist and a teacher. I wish it were a common idea everywhere. When I was reading your answer, I remembered my efforts to study music. I wanted to learn how to play the piano, but I heard that at 11 years it is too late, so I should learn the violin. Unfortunately, I was not lucky with a teacher, she hit my hand two times in front of my granny insisting that I must relax and I do not know how to do it. I asked my granny to return all music textbooks to the library and I quit my studies.
I feel inspired after reading your response, and I hope that one day I will go back to music and learn how to play, at least basic tunes.
Post-reflection: I agree with you that it is never late to learn. "It is better to learn late than never "– Publilius Syrus.