One of the most rewarding aspects of our journey has been the ability to teach English in Ecuador. Our most recent teaching experience occurred at Copalinga in the town of Zamora on the edge of the jungle. Michele and I really enjoy the opportunity to share our knowledge of the English with others who are willing and able students.
Martiza has been one of our best students. She is probably in her early 30´s and she has two children Alex and Jessica. The first day we taught Maritza her two children were also with her. They already knew a bit of English and working with Mom and her two kids was very nice.
Of course there is always a double edged sword of anything you do in life, and teaching English is no different. As Katrina pointed out to us in Isinlivi, education is a great thing for kids living in small villages, but it is also a detriment, as the more educated someone is, the less likely it is for them to remain in their small agricultural village and till the land and tend the animals. Why, because as we get more educated, we also want to apply our knowledge out there in the world, and we will usually make the sacrifice to leave our native home and venture out into the world based on curiosity, the willingness to do better in life and the material possessions that most of us desire at some point in our life.
Maritza is the employee of the owner of one of the hostals we stayed at. She is an extremely capable employee, Mom, esposa, y all in all great person. But does the owner of the hostal really want her to become educated in the English language and then discover her abilities to go out into the world and make a better living for herself.
Our we as teachers serving her well by educating her in English and giving her the skill set to earn a higher wage and venture out into the world away from her native village, home, family. All questions that should be carefully thought out before venturing into foreign territory in parts of the world in which we are not that familiar.
Needless to say, having Spanish skills that are good enough to teach English as a foreign language to native Spanish speakers is quite a rewarding experience, and one that I would recommend to anyone who is traveling in the world and learning a new language. Its a great way to learn Spanish and interact with the local people, and at the same time help someone else in the world who has a curious mind and body.
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Teaching is such a great learning... we learn not always what one might expect, but something entirely other and new... I think the benefit of everything is always in doubt until it is packed up and taken on the journey. There it acquires a new significance... the isolated object has a new dignity, like one of the few who inhabit the small city) even ourselves, and our advenurous pace... we value in a new setting beyond what we know.
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