New Experience For Some San
Diego Schools Students And Their Teachers
By: Patricia Hawke
This July, Annie Santana, a Spanish
teacher at Mission Bay High School, part of the San Diego schools, departed
the city and headed for the island of Robinson Crusoe, Chile. In the seventh
year of her career, Santana joined the Fulbright teacher exchange program.
For one year, Santana will teach English as a second language at a Chilean
school on the island; but her students will not be losing her. A Chilean
teacher will be replacing Santana at Mission Bay. While both teachers are
immersing themselves into their new cultures, the students in both countries
also will be exposed through their teachers to a new cultural experience and
another country.
Both teachers will have many challenges to face, since there are many
differences between the cultures. Chilean classrooms, for example, are
smaller in size than those in the San Diego schools. The culture-driven
relationships between teacher and student are much closer in Chile, as well.
Santana initiated the contact with the Fulbright teacher exchange program.
She believed that she was ready to advance to the next level of
cross-cultural experiences by teaching abroad. Santana thoroughly researched
the available options. Many did not meet her needs, since she would have to
give up her teaching position with the San Diego schools. The Fulbright
program best fit her needs, since the exchange is only for one year and an
exchange teacher will take her place, allowing her to retain her position
with the San Diego schools.
Santana chose Chile, because it is more economically stable than other Latin
American countries. To prepare for her trip to Chile, she read the “House of
Spirits”, by Chilean author Isabel Allende. The book aptly portrays the
culture in Chile, which is largely influenced by the many German immigrants
over the years.
Before leaving in July, Santana remarked of her interest in experiencing the
differences between the cultures of the U.S. and Chile. She also was excited
to see how Chile differs from other Latin American cultures, of which she is
familiar from her own Mexican heritage. She also was looking forward to
seeing how school operations differ from the San Diego schools, as well as
societal norms and the general day-to-day routines.
Other differences that Santana and her students back in the San Diego
schools will experience are the Chilean customs and the difference between
the Spanish known and taught by Santana and Chilean Spanish, which has a
different accent, slang and word usage.
Santana is scheduled to return to the United States and the San Diego
schools in July 2007. Until then, she plans to communicate with her family,
friends, the Chilean teacher, and her San Diego schools’ students by way of
the Internet. She wants everyone, especially her San Diego schools’
students, to enjoy her adventure with her. It is a great opportunity for
them to experience life outside San Diego.
About The Author
Patricia Hawke is a staff writer for Schools K-12, providing free, in-depth
reports on all U.S. public and private K-12 schools. For more information on
San Diego schools visit
http://www.schoolsk-12.com/California/San-Diego/index.html
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