From Outsider to Participant: Reflections on our Community Participation Class

A LESSON FOR GOOD

As the number one in the world, the USA is a country about which most foreign people know something, for example the culture, the behavior. Nonetheless, when you are living in this country, you see things with another vision. You must face the routine, with the challenges which every foreign person lives with.

When I began my English class on January 11, I had made up my mind to stay in a school and learn the language as fast as I could. In the beginning, I didn’t think about learning English on field trips, going to local events. However, as our teachers told our class that could be very productive, I accepted this challenge and it was a good experience.

I was able to learn not only the language, but Sarasota customs and behaviors as well. After participating in social and cultural events, I could see beyond my foreign eyes. Here, seniors have a dynamic participation in Sarasota life. They are at every event, conscious of and interested in what is going on.

I could see the Amish and the Mennonite people living their peculiar life, using their tricycles around the city without any trouble with other people or other vehicles.

I was able to learn about the American System of Education, which is completely different from that in Brazil. I was able to learn more about the political system.

I could see more closely the changes that this country is facing nowadays, after financial crises, and how people are living with it.

I could realize that, although Sarasota is a small city, it’s multicultural, since there are people not only from other states in the USA, but from other countries as well. The people here are conscious about problems coming from the differences among people and are doing a good job to solve, or at least, minimize these conflicts.

I could see people very interested in any kind of arts, going to the Sarasota Film Festival, Art Exhibit, Dancing , Opera, like in big cities. It makes this city a very interesting place to live in.
Therefore, thanks Jan and Christine. You made me understand much more than I could if I stayed only in a sit in classroom.
Ivete


AN EXPERIMENT IN EXPERIENCE

This semester I have had the privilege of facilitating, along with my colleague Jan Holmes, a class of wonderful women with magnificent minds from around the world who were brave enough to take to take the risk to experiment with language learning in a new way. It has been infinitely rewarding to collaborate to create a class in which participants become a part of our local community, using English in meaningful activities to explore, debate, experience and participate.

This brings to my mind a Chinese proverb:

I hear, and I forget.
I see, and I remember.
I do, and I understand.

Thank you, magnificent minds, for creating this experience.
Christine