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First couple handprints dripped a bit, but we got the hang of it
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One of the required characteristics of a PCV that is
stressed during the seemingly never-ending Peace Corps application process is
the ability to be self motivated.
Two
years ago, when I first started the application process, I considered myself to
be a self motivated individual.
I felt
that I was the type of person who strives to do my best, if for no other reason
than my own self satisfaction of a job well done.
Clearly, this thinking was a load of
crap.
I can say that after 9 months of
living in Ethiopia, I had absolutely no idea what it really meant to be self
motivated.
The truth is, living and
working in the United States, I had little need to be self motivated.
Working as a restaurant manager, I was
motivated to make money- first for the company, then (hopefully) in turn that
would mean more money for me.
I was
motivated to work hard and to do well in order to grow my career.
I was surrounded by a team whose goals were
mostly the same.
There was
accountability to this team, and if a team member did not have the same
motivations, they were probably not a part of the team for very long.
I may have thought that I was self motivated,
but looking back I can see that I was more motivated by tangible goals.
So, what does it mean to be self motivated? In my experience over the past several
months, it means that first, there is no team.
There are a handful of teachers at my school who support my projects and
who are interested in what I’m doing, but overall there is very little support
from the staff or administrators at my school.
I have invited the school directors (principals) to come see my model
classroom and to observe an English Club meeting. They have yet to take me up on my offer. I think it’s pretty safe to say that they
don’t know or care about what I’m doing.
Secondly, the goals are less tangible. I’m not bringing any more money to
anybody. I’m not expanding schools,
building new classrooms or buying computers.
Maybe, just maybe, by the time my service is finished a few people will have
improved their English. Although in
order for this improvement to happen, people actually have to participate in my
programs. Huh! What a novel idea! I have so many teachers and administrators
tell me that they want to improve English, that they want to be a member of my
English Club. I always invite them to
attend my weekly Teachers’ English Club.
Last week I had one teacher attend my club. It is incredibly frustrating to work on a
project that I think is important and very practical and necessary for English
teachers, who can barely speak English, but they are unmotivated to
attend. Their lack of motivation
seriously hampers my motivation.
Finally, there is very little supervision or
accountability. Aside from the reporting
forms that I fill out for Peace Corps every few months and the numbers I report
to my local education office, there isn’t anybody holding me accountable on a
daily basis. I can basically make my own
schedule, go to school whenever I feel like it.
This factor is the very tricky part for me. This is when I have to dig deep and summon
all the self motivation possible to get my butt out of bed every morning. It is so easy to feel that since nobody at my
school seems to care what I’m doing, why should I care? Why should I try to help people improve their
English when they don’t want to put the work in to improve? I have found that this is what self
motivation is all about- not letting the negativity over-take my overall goals.
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Pen Pal display inside my model classroom- by far the biggest attraction in the room!
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Some days are easier than others to find my motivation.
Recently I’ve been in a bit of a rut.
I feel my morale getting low and my
pessimistic thinking affecting my motivation.
What’s the solution to this rut?
Well that’s what I’m trying to figure out now.
I’m going to focus on the part of my job that
I really enjoy- working with students.
The main area of my job is supposed to be working with teachers to
improve their English proficiency, as well as, their teaching methodologies,
but I find that trying to help teachers is where I feel least supported and
most negative.
I’ve started a weekly
Creative Writing Club for grade 6-8 students in my school.
This club has been very successful so far.
The students are excited to come and
participate.
I wanted to keep the club
to a manageable number of students, so I limited it to 30 kids, and since the
beginning of this club I have had many other students come and ask when I would
have another club that they could come to.
I am in the process now of beginning a second weekly student club.
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Jen painting the kids' hands for classroom border
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The Creative Writing Club is my favorite activity that I’ve
done so far.
Almost all teaching here is
based on memorization.
Students are not
taught critical thinking skills, problem solving, or imaginative thinking.
My biggest goal in this club is to bring out
creativity in the students while practicing their English.
So far, in the first 3 weeks of the club,
most kids are still thinking very literally.
They are writing essays based in facts rather than imaginative stories,
but there are a few students who are starting to “get it”.
As I’m at the front of the class jumping
around and gesturing wildly trying to explain something, the students are all
looking at me like I’m crazy, but I have faith that by the end of the semester,
they will all be able to get a little crazy and realize that they can have fun
while learning.
These kids, who are so
eager to learn are what will keep me motivated.
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Alphabet wall
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Wh-question words
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Lots of fun making Valentine's Day cards
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Big thanks to my parents for the art supplies. I'll be sweeping up glitter forever!
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