It’s officially been one year since my family and I moved to Casablanca, Morocco. During the course of this year, I have been teaching at an International School and this experience has taught me so much about being a teacher. The top things that I have learned are:
1. Kids are kids, all kids want to be silly and play, no matter where in the world you live.
2. Background knowledge is dependent on many variables. My kids had different background knowledge this year than in previous years, because they live in a distinctly different culture than the ones I left in the States. This background knowledge is not better or worse, but it needs to be taken into consideration when approaching a lesson.
3. A little language goes a long way – I am far from fluent in either Arabic or French, but what I have learned has helped me inside and outside the classroom.
4. Cultural discussions are a good thing. I have had great discussions with my kids, which have helped me know them better, and has hopefully taught them a thing or two about other cultures and living with tolerance among others.
5. I am still learning and growing as a teacher. Every day of this year made me stronger, and often I was reminded of the saying “The more I know, the more I know that I don’t know.” Hopefully all that I learned this year will help me for many years in the future.
After only one year of teaching in Morocco, I feel like I have learned and grown so much. I can’t wait to see what I learn over the next year.
We've been in France for 1 year and 5 months. Seems like forever! For some reason, I thought you had been living there longer than I had been living here.
ReplyDeleteIt does feel like a lot longer, doesn't it? For some reason one year here feels like 2 or 3 in the States, or perhaps that's just because it was my first year and there was so much transition, lol!
DeleteAnd nope, you have me beat by a few months. I'm going to make it up to France to meet you one day!
Heidi Raki
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