Emily Murphy in Ecuador

As an ESL teacher, I was thrilled when I found out that I had the opportunity to go to Quito, Ecuador for a week in March to conduct teacher training sessions for ESL teachers there. It was an amazing opportunity, both personally and professionally. The most challenging part was trying to figure out, through lots of email correspondence, exactly what the different groups I would be presenting to really needed and wanted. Then I had to fine-tune the basic outline with which we started, do research into what they needed, and create/find handouts for the presentations.

Of course, when I got there, it all had to be revised! But I had two phenomenal Ecuadorian ESL teachers, Marisabel and Margarita of the British School, who had arranged my visit, to work with me on getting it all together. As I got to work with them, during what was a fairly intense week, I got to know them pretty well, and found out what the field is like for ESL professionals in that part of the world. They also became friends.

During the day, I observed ESL teachers at the British school, and gave them feedback. I also taught a few of their classes, while they observed me! I consulted with the principal, special-education staff, and ESL staff and made recommendations for their programs. At night, I conducted the workshops, which primarily focused on teaching techniques for limited English proficiency students (basically, ESL students who have to learn English and the subject matter at hand, such as science or literature, at the same time). The teachers taught everything from preschool through grade 12.

The food was wonderful. I got to drink watermelon juice! There were also lots of wonderful fruits and fish I had never tried before, and I enjoyed some truly Ecuadorian dishes, like umitas, which is kind of like a cross between corn pudding and corn bread baked in actual corn husks. I stayed with a local family who had a daughter, Mishal, who was 10 years old and was studying English in school – she certainly got lots of practice at it the week I was there! I was so pleased to have the opportunity to stay with a local family. I experienced and learned so much that I never would have encountered had I had some other sort of housing arrangement – what the joys and challenges of being an average Ecuadorian were. I was surrounded by beautiful scenery – the mountains and volcanoes were especially breathtaking. I miss them already! It was a unique experience I am so grateful I got to take part in.