colombian kids

Desideria (Moderator) says on Nov 3, 2006, 10:05:

oh dear

What age are these kids? Do they live at an orphanage? Yet corporal expression is a magnificient way of communication and expression. Do you speak any Spanish at all? They do grow up very fast in Colombia; both boys and girls. If these kids have been raised on the streets they'll have a few hobbies you might not find so good, like sniffing glue...

Cheers,
Desi

«Sé que los seres humanos y los peces podrán coexistir en paz». ( George W. Bush, Saginaw 29-09-00)

"When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain?"(First Witch in Macbeth)

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shenley says on Nov 3, 2006, 10:43:

I admire you... I think that it`s great what you are going to do! The world needs people like you so, go on... I can`t help you but thought I will drop you a line. Don`t give up on them and be patient. :-)

shenley :-)

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mila says on Nov 3, 2006, 11:55:

thanks for the...hm...encouragement ;) Desideria,
The kids are between 5-18 years old. Quite a challenge, actually, because the differences within the group are going to be VAST. This troubles me a lot, but is in no way discouraging. Sniffing glue is but I've dealt with 'ninos-toreros' as I called them - 7-18 year old bullfighting school trainees; I don't mind a bit of variety when it comes to hobbies and interests. But I still mind the glue...I do speak some everyday Spanish but haven't practiced it for a while now.

Shenley,
Thank you, but I'm afraid there's not much to admire about what I'm doing. There are things I can teach, generally, but unless I find a way to teach THESE KIDS, specifically, I'm just going to be wasting everyone's time.

Thanks for the encouragement though. If you think of something else to add, please do so. I'd greatly appreciate any tips, ideas and, yes, encouragement ;).

Good luck and take care.

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Desideria (Moderator) says on Nov 3, 2006, 12:17:

I would think that there are a lot of things you can teach these kids...also that there are a lot of things these kids are going to teach you. I might be painting a horror scenario for you but I still don't know if these kids are gamines (street kids) or just orphans living at an orphanage. It makes a huge difference.

Another thing that I think is very positive is that you'll be teaching corporal expression. I wouldn't teach classical dance or ballet here, just modern dance, jazz dance and drama. It's a mixed group and the ages vary to much for classical training. You have a gereat chance to brush up your salsa, merengue, vallenato and reggeaton skills with these kids...so to work with them I'd definitely tap on that vast kinestetic resource that these children and young adults (the ones over 14 are pretty much grown up, at least physically) already possess.

Are you a qualified dance teacher?

Cheers,
Desi

«Sé que los seres humanos y los peces podrán coexistir en paz». ( George W. Bush, Saginaw 29-09-00)

"When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain?"(First Witch in Macbeth)

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cali373 says on Nov 3, 2006, 12:31:

Good luck to you. Its a very good thing your doing, considering that their parents should be doing these things.

Smile if you are a thinker!

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mila says on Nov 3, 2006, 12:31:

orphans, not street kids I'm am going to be working with orphans, who have spent most of their lives in the homes provided by the charity organisation.
I am a qulified teacher of both English and dance, a ballet dancer myself. I will probably be focusing on modern dance but am determined to build on the classics, since to me it's the foundation of taste and discipline. Of course, I'll try to give it a local flavour but I also want to show them the beauty of styles that they are not familiar with. Great advise though, I will keep your suggestions in mind.

Good luck and take care.

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Desideria (Moderator) says on Nov 3, 2006, 12:43:

I asked that because I know that some institutions pick up and give home to gamines. It will be easier and a lit bit less of a challenge if these children and youngsters have been living most of their lives in a protected environment.
You are probably not going to have any gluesniffers there. Yet I'd see the greatest challenge the wide age spread. How many kids are there total? Will you be able to divide them in smaller, more homogeneous groups? Are there more girls than boys?

(I'm a multicultural/multilingual early childhood teacher and work closely with a dance teacher here in Sweden. Please keep us posted and best of luck. You're going to have an interesting experience in Bogotá.)

Cheers,
Desi
«Sé que los seres humanos y los peces podrán coexistir en paz». ( George W. Bush, Saginaw 29-09-00)

"When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain?"(First Witch in Macbeth)

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Desideria (Moderator) says on Nov 3, 2006, 12:44:

cali 373

"parents should be doing these things."

These kids are orphans.

Cheers,
Desi
«Sé que los seres humanos y los peces podrán coexistir en paz». ( George W. Bush, Saginaw 29-09-00)

"When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain?"(First Witch in Macbeth)

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mila says on Nov 3, 2006, 13:20:

classes Desideria,
May I ask if your job is in any way similar to what I will be doing? Do you work with displaced children or at regular school?
As far as I understand, I will have over 30 students, girls and boys in approximately the same proportion, and the opportunity to divide them into groups as I consider necessary. The kids will be my responsibility during their Christmas holidays, therefore, I should also plan and organize extra-curricular activities, such as excursions, subject-specific workshops, games. I do expect it to be an incredible experience, but being here in Holland, I find planning ahead difficult.
I will do my best to keep you posted on the progress of my work and for now have only to ask and encourage you to keep sharing your experiences.

Good luck and take care.

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Desideria (Moderator) says on Nov 3, 2006, 13:35:

no, I work at a regular school but in a school district with much immigration and social problems. I've taught school in Colombia, though, even if it was a long ago.

Your best bet is not to plan too much ahead. You're going to have an incredibly interesting time ahead of you but it's just going to be...what for a few weeks?

My advice is to arrive in Bogotá, meet your kids have some kind of social gathering first where you get to talk to them informally and find out what they expect and how do you think you can help them with the program you have in mind.

Take it from there.
Cheers,
Desi


Sé que los seres humanos y los peces podrán coexistir en paz». ( George W. Bush, Saginaw 29-09-00)

"When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain?"(First Witch in Macbeth)

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mila says on Nov 3, 2006, 13:46:

5 weeks which is the length of my university Christmas holidays. I know this is not much, not nearly enough to make a substantial difference, but this is all the time I have being a student with two jobs. Would you consider 5 weeks to be totally insignificant?

Good luck and take care.

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Desideria (Moderator) says on Nov 3, 2006, 14:04:

Absolutely not Sometimes it's very little that is needed to make a difference. Go for it. I'm sure that both the children and you are going to learn a lot from each others. I'd like a full report
how did it go in Bogotá right here.

Cheers,
Desi
«Sé que los seres humanos y los peces podrán coexistir en paz». ( George W. Bush, Saginaw 29-09-00)

"When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain?"(First Witch in Macbeth)

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mila says on Nov 3, 2006, 14:07:

;) if I do survive the experience, I'll be reporting on and on :)

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Desideria (Moderator) says on Nov 3, 2006, 14:16:

oh you'll survive fine it's not that bad at all. Just different. ;

Cheers,
Desi

«Sé que los seres humanos y los peces podrán coexistir en paz». ( George W. Bush, Saginaw 29-09-00)

"When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain?"(First Witch in Macbeth)

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