Adios America... Hello Mexico!

Adios America... HELLO MEXICO 08 Jan 2010 – 1020

Holy Crap. I am actually on an airplane on my way to Mexico. I am actually going through with this. I am actually moving to Mexico for at least 6 months. o.o. (Yes, Janice, one of my crazy 'scams' is actually happening!)

For those of you who don't know me well I should tell you that I make A LOT of plans. I am always dreaming up some scheme for the future... Past schemes have included: going to school at Tulane in New Orleans (I never even applied), moving to Japan (still a possibility), running away to Disney World via the college intern program (my friends made me realize I only wanted to do it to get away from my mother and that subjecting myself to a year of slave labor was not the answer), going to law school in New England (I walked out in the middle of the LSAT when I realized I didn't actually want to be a lawyer), joining the Peace Corps and living in some exotic land (don't even get me started on that one).... etc etc etc... but none of those ever really got past the planning phase. It's always just some crazy thing I am dreaming up.

And now... here I am. All my worldly possessions have been packed up into 2 large tubs, 3 small tubs, 3 suitcases, and a back pack. The rest is being sold by my friends (BY THE WAY: if you are in the market for a very comfy sofa, a gently used full sized bed, dresser drawers, a coffee table, or a 5'x6' blank canvas please contact Amber michikade@gmail.com LOL).

How did I get here? Glad you asked. ;) I'm in graduate school working on a master's degree in ESL (English as a Second Language). A little over a year ago I was just getting my MA in Literature and a graduate certificate in ESL (like ½ a MA). I was in class one night toward the end of the semester when I heard some of my classmates trying to convince another classmate to do a semester in Mexico. My school (UNT) has a special program that works with a University in Toluca, Mexico, UAEM, (Universidad Autonoma de Estado de Mexico). I can't remember exactly what I overheard that day but one of the students was an American who had done a semester at UAEM and the other was actually FROM Toluca doing an semester at UNT. They both spoke very highly of UAEM and Toluca and were trying VERY hard to convince the other student that it was a great idea. My interest was perked.

I went and spoke with some of the people in my department and found out that if I went to do a semester in Toluca I would have free housing provided by UNT and receive a monthly stipend of MORE money than I was making in America (I'll be teaching classes at UAEM). I then found out that if I took a couple extra classes and stayed for just one more semester I could get 2 masters degrees out of the deal (one from each University). SO, I could either stay in America, pay rent, work for pennies, and get a graduate certificate or MA in ESL OR I could go to Mexico, have free housing, get paid more money and get TWO MA for the price of one. HARD CHOICE. =P

A lot of people ask me what, exactly, will I be doing in Mexico. I'll basically be doing 4 things. One of my professors teaches a week long ESL Teacher Training workshop every January. She asked me to come down to Toluca early to help her with that (My classes at UAEM don't start til the beginning of February). The first thing I will be doing in Mexico is helping her with this workshop. I am really excited about this opportunity. I will be assisting her on her workshops and, one day, teaching my own workshop on ESL through drama!

Then I have 2 weeks off. I'll spend this time adjusting, preparing for classes (teaching and learning), doing whatever, really.

At the beginning of February school starts. I will be taking classes (learning how to be a better ESL teacher) and teaching classes (helping students at UAEM improve their English).

The classes I am teaching will focus on helping students improve their English using drama. My adviser, Kristan, suggests that I call my classes an “ESL Drama Club”. Right now I plan on teaching 3 sections, each twice a week: 1. Improvisation, 2. Acting (using scripts), 3. Script writing. My ultimate goal is to have a show at the end of the semester in which the Acting students perform scenes written by the script writing students. I assume there will be some cross over between the classes (some students going to more than one class) so some of the writers will be able to perform their own works. =D

I think it is very important that I let the students perform things that are student written because I believe in empowering people to use their voice. There is something incredibly amazing about seeing your own work being performed by people. I remember doing student written shows back in high school. There is no way to explain the feeling a writer gets when seeing his or her own ideas, thoughts, and art come to life. I could have written the plays myself, I can do whatever I want, but I want to give my students a chance to experience that. I want to inspire them to keep writing, to keep engaged in English and in drama.

As I am teaching my classes I will be gathering data for my MA thesis project (I am testing if improvisation/roleplay activities improve students' fluency).

School actually ends in June. I won't be coming back until JULY. Kristen will be teaching a month long study abroad course for undergrads in the summer. She asked me to stay back another month to be her graduate assistant. We will be traveling around to different parts of Mexico to take in the culture and learn about the Mexican education system.

So. That's what I'll be doing in Mexico: teaching, learning how to be a better teacher, improving my Spanish (if you are interested in watching my Spanish progress I recommend that you check out my Vlog... it's completely in (broken) Spanish. Heh. I am sure in July when I look back at my January vlogs I will cringe!)

I think this is more than enough blog for now (this got SO long) so I am going to go back to reading the book I brought (The OZ Chronicles vol 1. Right now I am reading 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'). Thanks for reading. ;)