A) As we were walking around the elementary school, we walked into their gymnasim and

watched a class in action. It was a younger age class who were doing karate or a martial arts
lesson with their instructor. However, the instructor only spoke to them in spanish as he was
giving out instructions. He was telling them that he was going to replay the video again so that
they will have a better understanding of what is going on the second time around. The kids, in
response, answered him also in spanish agreeing or acknowledging what was going to happen.
They waved at us and greeted me and my peers also in spanish as we walked into the room.
This must have been a spanish class who uses their language and experience outside the
classroom to engage with the students. The teacher relates to the book Tech Like A Pirate as he
uses games and videos to keep the students engaged while also keeping them on their target
language path.
B)While watching this process occur for the short amount of time that we were watching, I felt
happiness. These kids were truly engaged in what they were doing and watching students truly
learning is just an amazing opportunity to participate in. I also was stunned and amazed as they
were being spoken to in spanish and not only understood what the teacher was saying but also
responding to them in the target language. I was glad that the curriculum extended outside the
normal classroom setting and into other aspects of education.
C)As soon as we walked into the gymnasium, I was amazed at how big it was and how nice it
was. However, this is a new building so that was expected. Their was a 360 stage that was
present on both sides of the gym and cafeteria. This type of environment is super cool for kids
and important for them. Now, when we were watching the kids, I think my jaw dropped a little.
These kids were probably 7 or 8 and were speaking spanish better than I ever could and they
werent doing it in a traditional way of a spanish class. This type of learning intrigued me as
when I become a teacher to think of lessons that are outside the box and more engaging. The
teacher was making sure that they understood by speaking simply but in spanish. It was just
super cool to see what they were talking about in a real life setting of the Physical education
class. The teachers role is to not only be in the classroom teaching their curriculum but finding
ways to connect each teacher together to fufill the education. I tried also while watching the kids
to find an asset that they would all have so then when I greeted them it was in this positive light
instead of a more intimidating one.
D)The person that impacted me the most during this trip was a highschool teacher named Felix
Medina. He was greeting us as we continuously passed him and his class in the hallway and
made sure that we felt greeted and welcomed by the international high school. Mr.Medina,also,
welcomed us into his classroom during his free period to answer any question we might have
about the high school specifically. He explained to us his classroom setting and how he likes his
classroom environment to be very welcoming and as he explained it, “the starbucks asthetic.”
This style of teaching is very different from the other classrooms as they seemed to be more
traditional and I think I can carry this into my classroom. If classrooms are more environmentally
welcoming to students, they feel more comfortable and engaged in the lessons. Mr. Medina also
explained to us how he became a teacher saying that he went to an international school in
Mexico, so he was just like the kids, just in a different country. He fits the mission statement as
he is keeping his curriculum or lessons relevant to todays students and keeping them engaged
in his lessons. Also, he taught me that my role as an educator is not only about teaching but
being their for the whole kid, as he explained that he gives his kids food, tea, or coffee on the
daily to give them a break from their rigorous days.