I interned at the primary school, Iqbal Masih. This school is very diverse in each classroom and is primarily immigrants. This school has two teachers for every classroom and these teachers follow the same students from kindergarten until the fifth grade. If the main teacher does not speak English and therefore is unable to teach it, there is an English specialist, Sumeneta that takes those classes and teaches them English. First grade has an hour, second has two hours and third, forth and fifth have three hours a week. In the classes they listen songs and stories and read along with them. They have a new story every week and come back to school act out the story in groups. They speak Italian mostly and then there are some students who speak two and three languages. It’s usually between French, Romanian and Spanish. The students also have an hour of religion class a week. The curriculum for this class varies within schools depending on if the school is traditional or not.
Starting at this internship in the beginning of the program, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I’ve always enjoyed children, and teaching but the language barrier scared me a little. Throughout our time at the school, I was able to make relationships with some of the students. Two girls even mad a picture for me. Once when we were in the courtyard, a little girl told me “tu mota bella” and at the time I didn’t quite understand so when she asked Sumeneta and told me in English, “you are beautiful” as I smiled and attempted to repeat it Italian, she laughed and smiled. For the rest of their “break” which is like a recess, I tried helping some of them with English and they tried helping me with some Italian.
As far as my frames of reference, interning at the school has opened my eyes to other cultures in a way a school in America could not have done. I don’t think I have seen that many different ethnicities in one classroom at once. It was amazing. As I observed them in their classes, they interacted as kids. I say that in that way because it was almost like I expected them to be any different than children in the states. Almost like being in another country changes the nature of a child, and it doesn’t.
I would like to know what Iqbal Masih would do if the 30% rule is implemented because majority of the students in the school are not Italian and are at least second generation immigrants. What will it look like for them? Are they then willing to put the children in jeopardy and splitting up the classes who have been with their teacher for years? Will they have to make it so that the teachers don’t follow the students? I could ask the principal or any of the teachers any of assisted this quarter any of these questions. I got the impression that we all made a cordial and substantial enough relationship with all of them just from interning there for a few weeks.
Overall, I am so glad that I was able to experience the school and the children that I interacted with. Not only will it be able to help add to my final paper but also it has certainly broadened my perspective of life.
To Manka and Julie, thank you so much for allowing us to have this opportunity. Being the genie pigs was an experience but it was worth it.
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