Posted by Randy LeGrant on Tue, Mar 30, 2010
One of GeoVisions' volunteers on Conversation Corps-Spain published a new Blog and is updating her posts regularly. It is really worth a read.
Brandi is updating about her host family, her tutoring the family and her outings in and out of Madrid. In one post, What A Life, she writes about what it is like to tutor a family and how some people can earn quite a bit of extra cash tutoring others around Madrid. She includes a great photo of Puerto del Sol.
In her most recent post, Time Flies When You're Having Fun, she writes about her experiences around the famous El Rastro market and how she celebrates her one-month anniversary on Conversation Corps-Spain.
Here is an excerpt from Adventures of Curly Girlie: One Girl's Quest to Conquer the World:
The tutoring is going great. I am tutoring the whole family throughout the day, when I am home, as well as my scheduled time of 7-10 p.m. It is very informal. We traditionally just have a casual conversation and then I correct them when they say the incorrect words or help them when they are struggling with what to say in English. I help the mother, Maria, translate some of her work documents in English and because I am great with Powerpoint I help her jazz up her presentations. She is extremely grateful.
Maria was telling me even if she learns English she is unsure if she will ever understand American English because we have so many sayings that do not make sense to her. She wants me to teach her these sayings. I tend to say A LOT of these American sayings or idioms, For example,
- right off the bat
- off her rocker
- that´s the way the cookie crumbles
- would not be caught dead, and so on.
For this reason, I have been compiling a notebook full of all the idioms I use and can possibly think of. I write out the idiom, explain what it means, then provide an example of how one could use the idiom in a sentence. When I leave I am going to present it to the family. In the meantime, I just read the family a few of them a day. They find the sayings very entertaining!
Check out the "Volunteer Blogs" tag on the right and read what others write about this amazing program.
Are you headed to Spain with the Conversation Corps?
If you can take away something useful from this post, please consider leaving a comment (below) or subscribing to the feed (above) to have future posts delivered to your feed reader. You can also subscribe via email (in the upper right corner). Over on the right we have made it easy for you to become a Fan of GeoVisions on Facebook and to Follow Us on Twitter.
Posted by Randy LeGrant on Tue, Dec 22, 2009
Brandi Garrigus is excited and she has a Blog to prove it. She joined the Conversation Corps and in March 2010 she will be headed to Spain to live with a family and tutor them in conversational English. She will be on the Conversation Corps-Spain program for 2 months.
Brandi isn't waiting to arrive in Spain to start her Blog. She has it going already. If you're interested in the "process" when you join the Corps, subscribing to Out Of The Shell, Into The Light will give you a view into how it all plays out.
When Can I Join The Corps?
Conversation Corps runs all year long.
Do I Need To Know A Second Language?
It is always helpful to have at least the basics. After all, you are tutoring 15 hours a week. One great aspect of the Corps is that you have free time to volunteer locally, attend language classes, cooking classes and become a part of the community. While a second language is not required, it helps.
Do I Need Teaching Experience?
No. As a member of the Conversation Corps you will be required to help your host family with their conversational English for a maximum of 15 hours per week. As part of our program fee, we provide each Conversation Corps member with an excellent text should you need more ideas for conversation. The goal for your family is to practice their conversational English. This is not about teaching them reading, writing and grammar. This program is about conversation. We also provide a 24-hour hot line in case you need quick help and you receive premium membership at the ESL Lounge, to download as many ideas, worksheets and flash cards as you like.
If you can take away something useful
from this post, please consider leaving a comment (below) or subscribing to the
feed (above) to have future posts delivered to your feed reader. You can also
subscribe via email (over on the right). You can also follow us on Twitter.
Posted by Randy LeGrant on Thu, Dec 17, 2009
Stephanie Castillo is headed to Spain. She joined the Conversation Corps and will live with a family in Spain and tutor them in Conversational English. It is a very cool program. Stephanie is going to do a great job.
We were thrilled to learn of Stephanie's Blog, which she started the day she made her deposit. Since mid-November, Stephanie has written 10 posts. We are eager to find out what you think about The World Through My Eyes. We love it. And we hope you will read Stephanie's work, comment on it, and click the RSS fee in the lower left part of the Blog so you are updated each time Stephanie creates a new post.
If you can take away something useful
from this post, please consider leaving a comment (below) or subscribing to the
feed (above) to have future posts delivered to your feed reader. You can also
subscribe via email (over on the right). You can also follow us on Twitter.
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Posted by Randy LeGrant on Wed, Dec 02, 2009
Amy Segreti is currently participating on the GeoVisions Conversation Corps-Spain program. Her amazing Blog, Light On Broken Glass, has been running since last February. Amy is still in Spain and writes regularly.
We are always asked to provide testimonials for people interested in volunteering abroad, and we're finding active Blogs by volunteers still on assignment work even better than a testimonial to give a real flavor of the experience. Volunteers are onsite, and eager to receive comments. The responses are fresh and helpful. For other Blogs by GeoVisions' volunteers, be sure to click the Volunteer Blogs tag below or over on the right side under the Browse By Tag heading.
If you're thinking about volunteering abroad and you want to know what it's like first-hand, contact Amy by reading her posts and then sending a comment. Not only that, you'll read some really good stuff. Amy has an incredible future ahead of her as a writer.
If you can take away something useful
from this post, please consider leaving a comment (below) or subscribing to the
feed (above) to have future posts delivered to your feed reader. You can also
subscribe via email (over on the right). You can also follow us on Twitter.
Posted by Randy LeGrant on Sat, Sep 12, 2009
Thanks to our good friends at Brilliant Trips who showed me an article on Isabelle's Travel Guide, we wanted to make this available to all the volunteers in Madrid and for those who are going soon.
The attached link is a post on how to use the Metro in Madrid. Again, thanks to Brilliant Trips who showed this to us and thanks to Isabelle who is writing a great travel journal and offered up this very detailed guide (with photos) on using the metro in Madrid.
Click here to read Isabelle's entry on how to use the Metro in Madrid and while you're there, take a look at the entire Journal. It's truly amazing.
Interested in using the metro in Madrid? Join the Conversation Corps in Spain!
Posted by Global Work And Service Team on Wed, Feb 04, 2009
From The Tutor
Date: Wed, 4 Feb 2009 05:31:55 -0800
Subject: lesson plan ideas
Hi,
This is my fourth week in Madrid and I need some new fresh ideas to keep the kids interested. I´ve got a 5 and 10 year old boy. I just took on some neighbour girls (5 and 7), who are hyper and hardly know any English (which makes it difficult because I don´t speak any Spanish). Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
Danielle
==========================
From Help Me Teach
Hi, Danielle,
Sounds like a tough assignment. Actually, you are under no obligation to take on incoming neighbor children. I suspect they are hoping to join because you are so good. A bit around the fringes as joining you. Are we lookng at formally structured time or other activities? With this bunch, I would suspect the more activity the merrier. They need to show you what they wish to do. If this is a shared time with your own 'charges, then you need to re-assess your primary commitment. You are not obligated to those young people coming in later around the edges. Stopping this will take a bit of strength.
Just me: Personally, I would not include others at this point if that does not feel comfortable and does not help your program. Also, this was not part of your iriginal 'charge.' I have the feeling that right now this is not comfortable to you. My underatnading is that your primary objective is the family and their children (This is what they have asked for) - And that is where your energies need to funnel. Quite often, neighbors in surrounding areas learn about a GREAT person (word of mouth) who has joined a family. Wow! There you are and want to do wonderful things at the moment. Time for you to draw lines. What is your primary assignment? Does it include the neighborhood? (This could grow into full classes, etc.) How do you feel about excluding other children as you teach your own? How to adjust when you teach them and - Is it within the home or elsewhere? Might be good to include the hangers on with zoo/museum/park walks. Anything else is really off limits beyond your own charges. You need to draw the lines.
As regards your own charges: I would suggest art and activity in any form - self-expression, museums, parks, that which is around - all in English - if this has not yet been exhausted. Vocabulary! How does it enter into a sentence? Colors, form, activity, anything they may wish to just let you now about. Interesting age span. And especially how they can express themselves and explain. Not only to you, but also to their parents. You are a member of the family and this could be their sharing time. The 10-year old may balk a bit, but I suspect there will be sharing at the end - And in English where the words permit.
How long is your 'assignment' in Madrid? What are you looking at beyond this adventure? It is obvous that you are a good teacher. Let's see what we can do with the attachments. Also, please check with Dave's ESL Cafe on the Internet for great ideas. Are you able to access the Internet? If not, then I need to know so I can provide other materials.
Hope this is helpful. Let me know how things go. Given the attraction you have for other children, your own ability to take young peole into your world, and what is happening, I know you are a very good and caring teacher. You need to make some choices concerning you, your location and situation. Might need to draw a few lines and let yourself enjoy the experience.
Please see attached as a possible idea help. I would truly like to learn from you what is going on there. You plunged in - and into a family with certain wishes. I sincerely ope that all works out. What is the length of your program? This will help me in the future as the children grow into the language and those working with it.
Check out the attachments and let me know if anything is helpful. I continue to learn. Very best wishes! I hope to hear from you!
Jane
Posted by Global Work And Service Team on Wed, Jan 21, 2009
From the Tutor
Date: Wed, 21 Jan 2009 05:36:47 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Tutoring in Segovia
Jane,
I hope you are doing well. Maybeth at GeoVisions gave me your contact information. I just arrived in Segovia yesterday. I am tutoring the 7 year old daughter and the mother (conversational). Do you have any suggestions on ways to tutor the 7 year old? Are you located in Spain? Please let me know when you get a chance.
Thanks,
Alex
===========================
From Help Me Teach
Dear Alex,
Thank you for your message. Sounds as if you are having quite the adventure! Spain must be beautiful. No, I am not located there, but would like to visit one day. How long is your program? What are your circumstances?
Seven-year olds are quite active, so I can see the difficulties. Does the child have any command of English? If not, then anything you do will be elementary. I have attached a file of what I hope will be useful exercises and ideas. Action activities will be fun, especially outdoors.. Basic vocabulary (colors, objects, etc.) can be good with very simple sentence structure. Dp you know any Spanish? Children are often excited to teach a non-native speaker and this opens the door to sharing vocabulary in both languages. Drawing or finger painting of vocabulary words is also good. Look at the attachment and see if it can be of any help to you. If not, let me know and we can pursue other avenues.
Do let me know how it all goes for you and how you are enjoying your adventure and the challenges. I would enjoy sharing your adventures through your eyes and comments, and also any ideas you might have as you work with the child. I sincerely hope that all goes well for you.
Let me know if the attachment gets through OK. Very best wishes,
Jane
Posted by Randy LeGrant on Fri, Nov 28, 2008
When we call you our hero, do you feel like a hero?
I do not consider myself a hero when I compare myself to others that may have acquired a "hero" status, such as great historical figures. My experience and contribution abroad was intended to spread knowledge.
How do you remind people there is still a lot of work around the world we all need to accomplish?
I remind others of the work we need to accomplish through my own volunteer experiences. I also try to spread the word through email, Facebook, and everyday conversations.
What one positive impact did your volunteer work have (no matter how large or small) while you were there?
Seeing my host family make gains with the English language was very positive.
Please take a moment to share one "moment" with us that gives you goose bumps, brings a tear, makes you smile, warms your heart from your volunteer experience.
I smile every time I think of all the memories I made with my host family in Spain. Keeping in touch with my host family warms my heart from time to time. It was definitely an unforgettable experience!
Posted by Global Work And Service Team on Tue, Nov 11, 2008
From The Tutor:
Date: Tue, 11 Nov 2008 13:24:24 -0600
Subject: Teaching in Barcelona
Hi Jane,
I am leaving for Barcelona mid January, and was told you'd be a great resource for me! I am tutoring a 26 year old model/actress who has a fairly decent understanding of the English language. She understands and reads fairly well; she wants to improve her proficiency in writing and especially speaking. She wants us to speak in English all of the time, which I believe will already improve her fluency tremendously - and will work well I think given her busy and ever-changing work schedule. Given the circumstances, I believe that much of what we do will be in informal conversation. What other ideas or suggestions do you have for tutoring her? And are there any other resources that I should look into?
Thank you!
Trina
-------------------------------------
Reply To Trina From "Help Me Teach"
Hi, Trina!
Wow!! What a great 'assignment'! Sounds like a lot of fun while helping someone else. How long will you be with this person? You start in January. Then what?
You are correct: Just the daily speaking in English on any subject and as a natural course will help her fluency and vocabulary. You will need to become an undertanding chatterbox. She needs to feel comfortable enough to ask you questions on even the smallest items. Given her profession, daily linguistic interaction should be fascinating. If she is able to converse somewhat freely in English, go for the smaller vocabulary challenges that you might find around you...props, lighting, previous films (hers or others), background objects, interaction with others. What a wonderful challenge!
In writing, I would suggest the quick essay on opinion subjects. Read for content and critique for style and the various ways a person can write anything. I have attached some subject ideas to you. Another way might be Scrabble and I would suggest tucking in a travel Scrabble. Pictionary is good with attention paid to the smaller details and describing them. One thing that is fun and creative: Magnetic poetry for the refrigerator. Single words that can be rearranged on a magnetic background. This might be 'whimsy', but certainly lets the mind roam free. Idioms are also a good way to enter the language. There are several books out there on English (combined US and UK) idioms that you might find useful. Working with English Idioms, David Peaty, is a good start. Check your book stores (new and used) for other idiom texts. Most languages speak in idioms.
Always good is the Internet and its use of English. Do you have a couple of books (novels, romance, etc.) you would like to share with her? In reading, she can underline unknown words while getting the meaning of the sentence, paragraph, etc., from the context. How does she want to use the language? Is there a specific direction? Will you have contact with her before your arrival to give you direction? If so, you can pursue texts or information before you go.
I am attaching a listing of possible conversation or/and writing topics. Some may be appropriate to your situation. Some may prove very interesting as a way of getting to know people.
Let me know how this all progresses. A wonderful opportunity for you both - and for you, a great adventure in another country.
Hope this is of help. Please keep in touch! Would really like to learn how this all turns out.
Jane