Mexican teachers learn for a better future

Wednesday, 21 September 2011 22:30

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Mexican teachers who spend a year in Tucson as part of the Scholarships for Education and Economic Development (SEED) project, a University of Arizona scholarship program, learn more than just teaching techniques. They discover a whole new culture.

“At first, it was a desire to advance personally, but it also represented the opportunity to learn new things in a country different than our own,” Victor Manuel Delgado Landeros, a participant in this year’s program, said. Landeros has been teaching at the elementary level for 16 years.

Because most of the teachers do not speak English, the interviews were done with the help of a translator.

Landeros said while a main goal was to learn new educational practices, he was also looking forward to learning about American culture. In his community, he struggles to keep the indigenous language alive with students who speak mostly Spanish.

Felipe Preciado Marmolejo, a teacher coach in the Assesoras Tecnicos Pedagogicos (ATP) program, echoed Landeros’ words.

Marmolejo said he applied with SEED to observe the educational conditions in a new country and bring ideas back home.

“I hear a lot about the U.S. but to be able to see it for myself, what’s going on in education, is the reason that I’m here,” he said.

Harmolojo has been in education for 21 years. He said one challenge in his community is keeping the indigenous language alive. Many of the students do not speak it.

“We have a lot of materials, we have technology, but it’s a struggle to revitalize the indigenous language,” he said.

Marmolejo said he was happy with the time management of SEED staff and the dedication of other participants.

“I’ve really been surprised how everyone is working to advance and improve. And that’s something that has impressed me.”

The teachers take classes as part of their stay including English, academic reading and writing in Spanish, math and science. Marmolejo said the computer skills classes held the biggest value for him. He hopes to bring back these skills to benefit his community when he returns in July.

“We really need to improve education levels generally in Mexico, and we’re learning how to do that here.”

Read the first part of this story here.

Written by Madelaine Archie You are reading Mexican teachers learn for a better future articles

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