Teaching English and supporting children as they learn.
I taught English and supported children’s learning in Thailand, China and Honduras. The three months at Nuevo Destino in Honduras stayed with me in particular: the effort children made to get to school and the commitment of their teachers.
Thailand
I taught English for ten weeks through Projects Abroad. It gave me experience in getting children involved in lessons and working with them.
China
Alongside my studies at Tsinghua University, I tutored children in English. I also coached football a few times and joined other volunteers for a one-day school visit. I was interested in how the children learned and what their schools and parents expected of them, so I explored the education system beyond my own teaching.
Three months at Nuevo Destino
In Choloma, near San Pedro Sula, I worked in Nuevo Destino’s afternoon programme. A private school funded free lessons for children who otherwise lacked access to school. Alongside English, the work involved helping children concentrate, keep trying and develop confidence in their ability to learn.
How the programme was supported
For my video, I interviewed a teacher about the school. She explained that children also received meals and uniforms. The morning private school and other supporters funded the programme, while churches helped reach the children. I wanted to understand how a school could be organised to contribute to its community in this way. In the interview recorded at the time, she also described former pupils who had gone on to university with scholarships.
What stayed with me
Some children walked 40–50 minutes to school each day and back again afterwards. Teachers volunteered in the afternoon. The work was demanding, but I experienced a great deal of warmth there. Once a week, I accompanied pastors on visits to nearby communities and neighbourhoods. These visits helped me understand more of the children’s lives outside the classroom.
Values in everyday school life
The school was Christian. Honesty, care and mutual support came up in conversations, appeared on signs and were sung about in songs. I was interested in how daily encounters gave those words meaning. People were very welcoming to us. I enjoyed being there and contributing.