What Makes a Successful Minerva Teacher?

1     What  Makes  a  Successful  Minerva  Teacher?     x Flexibility   In   Honduras,   punctuality   and   reliability   are   hard   to   come ...
Author: Magnus Benson
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What  Makes  a  Successful  Minerva  Teacher?     x

Flexibility   In   Honduras,   punctuality   and   reliability   are   hard   to   come   by;   one   has   to   be   prepared,   but   also   prepared   to   change.   What   happens   when   the   copies   ‘ˆ –Š‡ “—‹œ †‘ǯ– ‰‡– ƒ†‡ ‘ –‹‡ǫ ” when  students  are  unprepared  for  class?   When  met  with  complications,  successful   Minerva   teachers   are   able   to   easily   roll   with  the  punches.     x Creativity   ˜‡”›‘‡ Šƒ• Šƒ† ƒ –‡ƒ…Š‡” –Šƒ– ™ƒ• „‘”‹‰ǡ ƒ† …Šƒ…‡• ƒ”‡ –Š‡› †‹†ǯ– learn  much.  This  is  something  we  strive  to  avoid  at  Minerva.  Whether  teaching  third   graders   or   17-­‐year-­‐old   seniors,   teachers   need  to   strive   to   provide   creative   lessons   each   and   every   class.   Creativity   also   affects   the   way   that   teachers   handle   both   problems   and   achievement.   Minervaǯ• ‹–‡”ƒ–‹‘ƒŽ   teachers   come   to   each   class   ™‹–Š‡™‹†‡ƒ•ƒ†ˆ”‡•Š™ƒ›•–‘‘–‹˜ƒ–‡•–—†‡–•ǯdesires  to  learn  and  succeed.   x Self-­‐Motivation   At   the   end   of   the   day   your   lesson   plans   and   your   grading   load   depends   on   you.   Successful   teachers   are   able   to   push   themselves   to   achieve   along   with   their   students,  and  they  can  work  seven  hours  a  day  without  the  administration  looking   over   their   shoulders.   With   this   responsibility   comes   the   freedom   to   mold   each   classroom  in  the  way  that  best  fits  the  unique  class.   x Patience   Successful  Minerva  teachers  are  exceedingly  patient.  Not  only   do  they  work   with  children,  but  they  are  also  working  with  children  who  may  not   speak  English   proficiently.  Plus,  the  cultural  expectations  and  standards  for  students  in  Honduras   are   vastly   different   from   those   in   the   United   States.   Teachers   at   Minerva   are   ’”‡’ƒ”‡†–‘’—–‹ƒ›†ƒ›•ǯ™‘”†‡˜‡Ž‘’‹‰ƒ•›•–‡‘ˆ…Žƒ••”‘‘ƒintenance   and  discipline.  Teachers  should  also  expect  their  lesson  plans  to  move  along  slower   than   expected.   Everything   happens   in   due   time   in   Gracias,   but   due   time   might   be   later  than  you  first  thought.   x Passion   Minerva  desires  international  teachers  to  revel  in  the  subjects  they  teach  and   the  students  they  mentor.  When  a  teacher  is  passionate  about  the  material,  it  makes   it   exponentially   easier   for   the   students   to   be   excited   to   learn.   Achievement   starts   with  the  teacher  and  ends  with  the  student.   x Support   Not   every   student   is   going   to   work   hard   and   participate   in   class,   and   for   those  that  struggle  there  must  be  a  supportive  teacher  waiting  to  help  them,  inside   and  outside  of  the  school  day.   Successful  Minerva  teachers  are  be  available  for  after-­‐ •…Š‘‘Ž–—–‘”‹‰‘”ˆ‘”–ƒ‹‰…Žƒ••–‹‡–‘ˆ‘…—•‘ƒ•’‡…‹ˆ‹…•–—†‡–ǯ•‡‡†•Ǥ‘‡ students   will   be   candid  about   their   need   for   help   while   others   will   try   and   hide   it   as  

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best  they  can,  and  in  both  scenarios  a  Minerva  teacher  needs  to  be  ready  and  willing   to  not  only  find  the  problem,  but  also  solve  it.   x Confidence   At   Minerva,   our   international   teachers   are   confident  and  outgoing  individuals  who  are  able  to   speak  their  mind  and  are  willing  to  do  so.  The  job  of   a   teacher  puts  one   on  stage   all  day,   every  day,  and   this  requires  extraordinary  poise.  Minerva  teachers   are   not   only   assured   in   their   ability   to   manage   a   classroom,  but  they  have  fun  doing  it.   x Organization   While   life   in   Honduras   may,   at   times,   feel   very   unorganized,   the   classrooms   and   teachers   at   Minerva   always   stay   organized.   Part   of   running   a   successful   classroom   is   making   sure   that   lessons   are   planned   and   methodical,   especially   when   working   with  the  younger   students.  Each  teacher  at   Minerva   is   expected   to   organize   class   assignments   ƒ† ƒ…–‹˜‹–‹‡• –‘ ƒš‹‹œ‡ –Š‡‹” •–—†‡–•ǯ ƒ„‹Ž‹–‹‡• and  success.            

A  Typical  Day  at  Minerva  Bilingual  School    

Teachers   arrive   at   school   by   7:20   AM.   While  school  does  not  officially  start  until  7:50,   it  is  important  for  the  teachers  to  get  to  school   ahead   of   the   students.   Your   time   in   the   morning   is   your   own:   read,   prepare   for   the   †ƒ›ǯ• …Žƒ••‡•ǡ ‘” •‹’Ž› …Šƒ– ™‹–Š ƒ •–—†‡– about  their  weekend  plans.   At   7:50   there   are   devotionals.   Led   by   a   different   teacher   on   a   rotating   schedule   each   week,   the   devotional   is   a   quick   biblical   lesson   and   prayer   for   the   whole   student   body.   It   is   then   followed   by   announcements   from   the   administration.   By   8   AM,   the   school   day   has   begun.   In   Secondary   School   (7th   grade   Ȃ   11th   grade),   classes  are  forty  minutes  long  with  no  breaks  in   between.   Due   to   the   limited   amount   of   classrooms,  the  students  stay  in  their  own   room   throughout   the   day   while   the   teachers   circulate  

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between   rooms   to   administer   their   classes.   If   a   teacher   does   not   have   a   class   during   a   certain   period,   they   are   free   to   prepare   for   another   class,   grade   assignments,   or   even  take  a  nap.  There  are  9  class  periods  per  day,  not  including  recess  and  lunch.   There  is  a  15-­‐minute  recess  at  9:45  for  the  Primary  School  (1-­‐6th  grade)  and   10  AM  for   the   Secondary  School.  Students   are  free  to  play  or  eat   during  that  time,   and   the   teachers   are   expected   to   keep   an   eye   on   the   students   and   manage   the   grounds.   But,   if   you   want   to   join   a   pickup   game   of   soccer,   you   are   more   than   welcome.   Lunch   is   at   12:00   PM   for   Primary   and   12:15  PM  for  Secondary,  and  it  lasts  45  minutes.   The   same   rules   apply   to   lunch   as   do   recess:   students   are   free   to   play   outside   or   inside   the   classrooms   while   the   teachers   supervise   (and   eat   their  own  lunch,  of  course.)  Lunch  is  a  key  break   in  the  day  to  stretch  ones  legs  and  socialize  with   the   students   in   a   way  one   cannot   do   during   class.   Snacks   are   available   for   purchase   at   the   school   gate.   The   school   day   ends   for   Primary   at   2:10   PM   and   for   Secondary   at   3   PM.   It   is   important   that   at   the   end   of   the   day   the   students   are   not  set   free   before   the   final   bell   rings.   In   order   to   keep   the   transportation   of   students   out   of   school   as   organized  as  possible,  it  is  essential  that  teachers   keep   their   students   in   line.   This   also   goes   for   recess   and   any   time   between   classes:   it   is   expected   that  students  stay  in  their  rooms  so  as  to  not  disturb  other  classes.  The  bell  does  not   sound  in  between  classes,  so  it  is  up  to  the  teachers  to  keep  track  of  their  schedule.   The  only  exception   to  the  schedule  is  Friday.  On  Fridays,  each  class  period  is   shortened  by  five  minutes  to  allow  for  a  chapel  service  during  the  first  35  minutes  of   the   day   called   ǮHora   Civica.ǯ   During   this   time   the   student   body   gathers   outside   to   recite  the  national  anthem,  prayers,  and  other  songs,  along  with  receiving  a  biblical   message   from   a   local   pastor.   As   with   the   devotional   each   morning,   the   teachers   attend  and  manage  the  students,  keeping  an  eye  out  for  talking  or  other  distractions.            

Teaching  at  a  Bilingual  School  

    The   Minerva   Bilingual   School   prides   itself   on   an   education   that   prepares   students  to  be  active,  responsible,  and  accomplished  members  of  society.  Part  of  this   process  includes  a  substantial  and  consistent  education  in  the  English  language.  By   the   time   a   student   graduates,   he   or   she   is   expected   to   be   conversationally   and  

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academically   fluent,   the   hope   being   that   they   will   thrive   in   an   English-­‐speaking   university  after  graduating  from  Minerva.     But,   while   this   is   the   goal,   the   realities   for   individual   students   vary.   Each   •–—†‡–ǯ•  English  ability  is  dependent  on  many  factors;  including  how  long  they  have   been   at   Minerva,   how   well   they   succeeded   in   the   Nivelación   class,   their   home   life,   and  their  personal  work  ethic.  These  variables  mean  that  students   at  Minerva   speak   English   with   many   different   degrees   of   fluency,   adding   a   layer   of   difficulty   to   properly  teaching  them  other  subjects.       The  Minerva  Bilingual  School  has   been   open   since   2006,   and   each   year   the   grades   become   more   cohesive   and   the   standards   for   English   ability   become  better  realized.     When   a   student   wants   to   join   Minerva   but   does   not   know   English,   they   join   the   Nivelación   class   for   6   months.   This   class   is   an   English-­‐ intensive   regiment   of   study   where   students   learn   English   for   the   full   school  day,  every  day  of  the   week.  Upon   completion  of  the  course  it  is  expected  that   students   will   be   able   to   function   and   succeed   in   their   respective   grades   in   classes   taught  completely  in  English.     For  those  students  who  already  know  English,  the  classes  at  Minerva  are  only   taught   in   English.   The   exceptions   are   Spanish   classes,   Honduran   History,  Art,   Music,   and  Gym.  These  classes  are  taught  by  Honduran  teachers.  The  international  teaching   staff   handles   the   English-­‐speaking   classes,   which   run   the   full   gambit   of   a   private   school  curriculum,  from  Literature,  to  Science,  to  Algebra,  and  Sociology.       Because   of   the   varying   levels   of   English   fluency,   teaching   at   Minerva   requires   patience   and   creativity.   Not   every   student   may   understand   your   lectures   at  the   same   pace,   and   not   every   student   will   be   able   to   write   essays   with   the   same   level   of   comprehension.   This   takes   time   to   understand   and   utilize   for   their   benefit.   Classes   need   not   focus   on   teaching   English   to   students,   but   rather   on   the   material   at  hand.  Still,  there  will  be  times  when  students   will   need   assistance   speaking   or   writing   in   English.     Understandably,   this   process   can   sometimes   be   frustrating,   especially   when   it   slows  the  progress  of  a  class  as  a  whole.  Where   there   are   issues,   however,   there   are   also   opportunities   for   growth   and   accomplishment.   The  Minerva  Bilingual  School  |  International  Teacher  Informational  Packet  

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‡ƒ…Š‡”•ƒ–‹‡”˜ƒ‡‡†–‘„‡ƒ„Ž‡–‘ƒ†ƒ’––‘‡ƒ…Š•–—†‡–•ǯ‹†‹˜‹†—ƒŽ‡‡†•‹ order  to  support  their  academic  progress.  We  care  so  much  for  our  students,  and  it   is  heartbreaking  to  see  students  held  back  by  a  language  barrier.     As  a  teacher  at  Minerva,  you  are  not  expected  to  be  fluent  in  Spanish,  and  you   are   expected   to   not   tolerate   the   use   of   Spanish   during   class.   However,  if  it  is  helpful   to  use  Spanish  in  order  to  facilitate  a  lesson,  you  are  welcome  to.  The  goal  of  fluency   should  always  be  kept  in  mind,  and  this  can  be  fostered  through  consistent  exposure   and   use   of   the   English   language.   Every   year   Minerva   grows,   and   every   year   we   graduate  students  with  a  better  grasp  of  the  English  language.          

Living  in  the  Developing  World  

  Gracias  is  a  mix  of  the  wealthy  and  the  poor   living  side  by  side.  As  opposed  to  the  United  States,   there   is   almost   no   middle   class   in   Honduras.   The   Minerva   Bilingual   School   is   not   a   cheap   educational  option  for  the  children  of  Gracias,  and   many  families  struggle   to  send  their  children  to   us.   ‡‰ƒ”†Ž‡•• ‘ˆ ‹‡”˜ƒǯ• ’”‡•–‹‰‡ ƒ† …‘•–ǡ –Š‡ neighborhood   near   the   school   hosts   both   large   homes  and  hardscrabble  plots  of  land.  Homes  and   businesses   on   the   main   street   in   town,   Calle   Principal,   are   nice   and   neat,   but   off   the   main   drag   the  street  conditions  suffer  and  the  quality  of  life  deteriorates.   Another   part   of   living   outside   of   the   developed   world   is   the   fact   that   resources   are   limited   and   consumer   goods   are   not   as   plentiful   as   in   the   United   States.   There   are   no   Targets   and   there   is   no   2-­‐day   shipping   from   Amazon.   While   there  are  plenty  of  small  shops  in  Gracias,  certain  goods  can  require  some  searching.   Especially  when  it  comes  to  food,  some  items  are  simply  not  available  in  Gracias  or   the  surrounding  area,  such  as  dark  chocolate  and  spinach.   Being  able  to  understand  and  appreciate  Latin  American  culture  is  integral  to   successfully  integrating  into  Gracias.  Men  will  often  make  comments  about  foreign   women,  especially  in  groups.  On  or  around  roads,  pedestrians  definitely  do  not  have   the   right   of   way.   There   is   rarely   a   sense   of   urgency   about   anything.   With   the   generally   laid-­‐back   attitude   of   Latin   American   culture   comes   a   lifestyle   that   is   simpler   and   slower-­‐paced.   For   many   teachers,  this   is   a   welcome   difference   from   life   as  a  professional  in  the  U.S.   One   of   the   most   important   issues   when   working   and   living   in   the   developing   world   is   safety.   One   cannot   ignore   the   dangers,   but   one   must   also   not   exaggerate   them.  The  two  most  dangerous  places  in  Honduras  are  the  cities  of  San  Pedro  Sula   and   Tegucigalpa.   Outside   these   metropolises   there   is   less   danger   for   foreigners   so   long  as  they  act  safely  and  smartly.  

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Frequently  Asked  Questions    

Can  family  and  friends  visit   me  in  Gracias?   Yes!  Although  Gracias  itself  is  a   small  town,  we  do  have  a  few   options  for  nice   accommodations  and   entertainment  for  visiting   family  and  friends.  Visitors  can   hike  on  Mount  Celaque,  enjoy   the  hot  springs,  or  visit  the   –‘™ǯ•ˆ‘”–Ǥ     Will  I  have  a  mailing  address?   ‡•ǤŽŽŽ‡––‡”•ƒ†’ƒ…ƒ‰‡•…ƒ„‡ƒ‹Ž‡†–‘–Š‡•…Š‘‘Žǯ•ƒ††”‡••ǡƒ†–Š‡’‹…‡† up  from  the  local  post  office.  The  address  is:     Minerva  Bilingual  SchoolȄ‡ƒ…Š‡”ǯ•ƒ‡     Bo.  Rosario  Fundena     Gracias,  Lempira,  Honduras     What  clothing  should  I  bring?  Does  the  school  have  a  dress  code?   The  school  does  not  have  a  dress  code,  and  dress  is  relatively  informal.  For  women,   jeans  and  longer  skirts  are  appropriate  with  blouses  or  Tees.  Sandals  and  flip  flops   are  OK.  No  shorts  or  short  skirts  (just  above  the  knee  is  OK).  For  men,  jeans  or   khakis  with  a  button-­‐down  or  polo  is  fine.  Men  must  wear  close-­‐toed  shoes.  Also,   pants  with  holes  in  them  are  unacceptable.  New  teachers  will  be  given  a  Minerva   polo,  which  can  be  worn  as  well.       What  will  my  living  situation  look  like?   At  Minerva,  the  school  will  pay  for  and  arrange  your  housing.  There  are  several   apartments  near  the  school,  as  well  as  a  few  larger  houses.  Most  likely,  you  will   either  have  your  own  apartment  in  a  building  with  other  teachers,  or  you  will  have   your  own  room  in  a  house  with  other  teachers.  Your  apartment/house  will  be   furnished  with  basic  amenities,  including  a  hot  water  heater  for  your  shower.  The   school  will  pay  for  you  electricity  bill.     Will  I  have  access  to  the  internet?   The  school  does  not  have  computers,  so  all  international  teachers  should  being   laptops  for  their  school-­‐related  and  personal  work.  Currently,  all  of  the  international   teachers  have  either  Wi-­‐Fi  or  Ethernet  internet  in  their  homes,  and  there  are  several   restaurants,  hotels,  and  coffee  shops  in  town  with  internet  access.  If  you  want   internet  access  in  your  home,  the  school  can  help  you  set  that  up,  and  you  and  your  

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roommates  can  share  the  cost.  The  monthly  internet  bill  is  generally  L  100  Ȃ  L  200   per  person  (USD$5  -­‐  $10).     How  can  I  communicate  with  people  back  home?   Many  international  teachers  use  Skype  to  communicate  easily  with  friend  and  family   in  the  U.S.  Another  option  is  a  Magic  Jack  phoneȄa  landline  which  plugs  into  a   computer  USB  port.  With  a  Magic  Jack  phone,  you  can  place  and  receive  calls  to  the   U.S.  for  free  using  even  a  low  internet  bandwidth.       Should  I  buy  a  Honduran  cell  phone?   Most  international  teachers  purchase  an  inexpensive  Honduran  cell  phone  while   living  here  (around  USD$20).  The  Honduran  call  phones  operate  on  a  payment   system  of  saldo.  Cell  phone  users  simply  buy  minutes  as  they  need  them  from  local   shops  and  convenience  stores.     Is  the  salary  enough  to  provide  a  comfortable  living  in  Honduras?   The  salary  is  about  $350  a  month,  which  is  sufficient  to  live  comfortably  here.  Many   international  teachers  do  not  need  to  use  personal  money  after  their  first  paycheck   (although  taking  longer  trips  on   vacations  usually  requires  more   money  than  what  your  paycheck   may  afford.)The  school  pays  for   housing,  electricity,  and  visa   expenses.  The  school  does  not   cover  your  flight.  Although  you   certainly  will  not  have  all  of  the   creature  comforts  of  life  in  the   U.S.,  most  international  teachers   are  completely  comfortable   here.       What  kind  of  vacations  and   time  off  will  I  get?   The  calendar  of  Honduras   includes  several  smaller   holidays  which  give  students   and  teachers  a  handful  of  long   weekends  throughout  the  year.   Concerning  longer  vacations,   international  teachers  can   expect  3-­‐4  days  off  from  school   for  Thanksgiving,  about  3  weeks   off  for  Christmas  break,  and  a   full  week  off  for  Semana  Santa   (Holy  Week),  the  wee  preceding   Easter.   The  Minerva  Bilingual  School  |  International  Teacher  Informational  Packet  

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  Šƒ–™‹ŽŽ †‘™Š‡ ǯ‘––‡ƒ…Š‹‰ǫ   On  the  evenings  or  weekends  when  –Š‡›ǯ”‡‘––”ƒ˜‡ŽŽ‹‰ǡ‹–‡”ƒ–‹‘ƒŽ–‡ƒ…Š‡”•   often  find  themselves  getting  caught  up  on  grading  or  planning  for  class.  If  not,  they   usually  hang  out  with  other  teachers  at  a  local  bar  or  restaurant,  or  they  often  have   movie  nights.  There  are  a  few  quaint  villages  nearby  so  visiting  them  for  a  day  is   always  fun.  Minerva  lies  at  the  base  of  a  national  park,  so  there  are  a  few  hiking   trails  nearby.  Also,  teachers  sometimes  hang  out  at  the  hot  springs  just  outside  of   town.       Will  I  be  able  to  travel  on  the  weekends?   Although  travelling  is  an  important  part  of  the  experience  here  at  Minerva,  the   priority  is  providing  the  best  education  possible  to  our  students.  Because  of  this,  it  is   recommended  that  international  teachers  spend  the  majority  of  their  short   weekends  preparing  for  class.  There  are  several  nearby  towns  like  Santa  Rosa  and   La  Campa  that  are  good  for  a  short  day-­‐trip.  Long  weekends  are  the  perfect   opportunity  for  more  travelling!  International  teachers  take  trips  to  other  places  in   Honduras,  Guatemala  or  El  Salvador.       Do  I  need  to  speak  Spanish  to  teach  at  Minerva?   Spanish  is  definitely  not  necessary  for  the  job  (as  all  classes  are  taught  in  English),   but  you  will  definitely  get  a  lot  of  practice  here!  People  generally  do  not  speak   English  in  Gracias,  so  there  are  many  opportunities  to  use  Spanish  in  your  daily  life.       Will  I  be  able  to  take  Spanish  classes?   The  school  will  also  be  able  to  arrange  Spanish  classes  here  in  town  for  any   international  teachers  interested  in  studying  Spanish  more  formally.  The  cost  of   these  classes  will  depend  on  the  number  of  international  teachers  participating.     Is  Gracias  safe?   Although  Honduras  has  some  very  unsafe  areas,  most  international  teachers  have   never  felt  threatened  in  Gracias.  Gracias,  Lempira  is  in  a  small,  laid-­‐back  town.  Most   teachers  feel  comfortable  walking  around  alone,  even  in  the  evenings.  Gracias  is   very  quiet  and  calm  compared  to  the  bigger  cities  in  Honduras,  and  safety  is   generally   not  an  issue.  

The  Minerva  Bilingual  School  |  International  Teacher  Informational  Packet