VSA report from Daniel Grace

VSA Chile

Last September I went to Chile to teach English. I did not really know what to expect but I couldn't wait to get started. I had been told that the city I was to live in was desolate and in the middle of no where. Well, they got that one right. However, I wasn't told that it rained as much if not more than it does at home in England! The city I was living in is called Coyhaique. It has a population of roughly 35,000 and is located in the deep south of Patagonia. It is a fairly young city surrounded by mountains and rivers, and of course they speak Spanish. I did not when I arrived. But, I was in at the deep end, as no one really spoke English.

Daniel and friends

If I wanted to survive, I had to learn. Luckily I was staying with a family and they hurled all sorts of words at each other and me. Most of it went over my head, but gradually I began to understand more, and before long I was having long conversations with them and anyone else I met. The people in the city were so welcoming. I made friends with many of the fellow teachers, one who took me out to lunch a lot and showed me all the good bars. I found that shopkeepers were eager to know my life history and to tell me theirs. The city was such that you could meet everyone you knew just by walking along the street. Everyone knew everyone and soon so did I. I really felt at home and a part of society, as everyone was so welcoming. The family I was staying with say their house is always open, as are the houses of many other friends I made out there. The whole ethos of the city was different from in England. Much more emphasis is placed upon people and family rather than work and money. Everyone comes home for lunch and has a big family meal, then school and work starts again. Everything seemed more family orientated. In some ways the region has yet to catch up with consumerism. It seemed to exist in a paradoxical way. There were gauchos riding along the road talking on their mobile phones. The roads were dirt tracks but there was broadband internet. It is almost as if everything in between has been temporarily forgotten. 

The reason I went out to Chile was to teach in three schools. The first school was fairly small, it had a relaxed environment where the children could learn at their own pace. This was a private school, and the most expensive one in the city. Each of my pupils had their own text book and work book. This made my job easier as I had to work from the books. At first this was great as it meant I did not have to plan lessons and I could spend time learning Spanish. But as time went on I wanted to vary the classes. But as the books were expensive, parents complained if the resources were not used. Towards the end I was allowed more flexibility. I taught them English songs and in return they tried to teach me Chilean ones. By the time I left we were all singing songs in both languages. I helped to organise a Disney concert for the end of term, just before I went home. Each class learnt a song from a film, in English, and dressed up as the characters. They really enjoyed it and at the same time they learnt many valuable new words. Being an expensive school, the class sizes were small and the pupils came from good backgrounds. There were only 15 at the most in each class so it was easy. This was the school I started working at first, so I thought I had got teaching all sorted. Little did I know! The other two schools I worked at were different. These were Catholic schools, and as Worth is Catholic and fairly disciplined, I figured these might be too. Indeed, on initial impression they did appear very strict. However, underneath, in the classroom, they were not. The discipline system was nonexistent. I was teaching classes of up to fifty pupils, most of whom didn't want to work. They wanted to run around the class room, killing each other, throwing paper around, talking, joking, you name it. Suddenly my "teaching fifteen hard working pupils" method went out the window! The pupils at these schools came from poorer backgrounds. Many were orphans or had been abused and were living in social homes. They needed lots of attention and love. When I first arrived at one school I was greeted by hysterics. I was surrounded and asked for autographs and messages on many occasions throughout my time there. It was surreal, but the reason was because the children get so little contact with people like me. They find it amazing to see someone who does not have black hair and darker skin. Instead of working, all the pupils came up and talked to me, giggling to each other. One classroom I entered started chanting my name. Once they got over the excitement of me arriving, usually half way through each lesson, I started trying to teach them some English. There were no resources here, just a board, a pen and my imagination. This turned out to be great fun. Most of my lessons ended up being very pupil orientated with lots of class involvement so no one was caught napping! When the children wanted to learn which, once my novelty value had worn off, was most of the time, they were fantastic to work with. They were always smiling and full of questions. By the time I left they were getting top marks in their tests, so I must have been doing an ok job! When it was time for me to go, everyone from one of the schools lined up, waved and gave me good luck cards. The other school invited me for a farewell breakfast. It was a real privilege and the four months I spent teaching have to be some of the most rewarding and enjoyable times of my life.

A Chilean view

Volunteering in Chile meant that I was able to go to a country that I would otherwise probably never have had the chance to visit. At weekends and during my time off, I was able to see magnificent lakes and fjords. I trekked next to icebergs and glaciers which was incredible. I travelled to Argentina where I went whale watching and saw wild penguins. White water rafting and horse trekking were just a few more great activities I was able to do. Of course the main benefit of volunteering like I did meant I was able to meet a huge range of people. Not only the pupils I was teaching but also the families I stayed with and all the other people I met. I was also able to give something to the city, even if it was only in a small way. I made a difference to my pupils' lives, not just by teaching a few words to them but by being there and caring for those who were less fortunate. I was pleased to be able to make a difference. Teaching was great fun, and I had so many valuable moments that I will remember for a long long time. I was also able to develop as a person. For starters, I learnt a new language and I also developed a lot of patience, because believe me it is tricky dealing with fifty crazy ten year olds when you don't know how to tell them to be quiet! My experience in Chile would not have been possible if it were not for the help of WOBS. They kindly gave me £500 towards funding my time volunteering in Chile. The VSA made it possible for me to stay for the time I did and also to get a few resources such as board pens which were an important commodity. WOBS are kind enough to give this bursary so if you are having a gap year, a career break or even you have a few spare weeks over the summer, put a lot of thought into volunteering. It is a very worthwhile experience and the VSA can help you to achieve something great that you will never forget.

Daniel Grace  (Farwell ‘05)