By Admin1 (admin) on Thursday, July 12, 2001 - 10:10 am: Edit Post |
The following interview was conducted via electronic mail with an individual who taught in Nepal through the United States Peace Corps.
The following interview was conducted via electronic mail with an individual who taught in Nepal through the United States Peace Corps.
Interview
The following interview was conducted via electronic mail with an individual who taught in Nepal through the United States Peace Corps.
Allison:
1. Are you currently teaching and if so where and what grade level?
-in a Nepali school, no. But I was teaching 6 and 7 grade science in a
government school 2 hours outside of Kathmandu. This fall I will be teaching
science and math at the international school in Kathmandu.
2. What made you decide to go to Nepal?
-I wanted to explore aspects of life and teaching, find out; how what I had
been learning and trying in the US would transfer to another culture. I just
saw myself as a science teacher who happened to take a job in Nepal. I knew
there was more out in the world to explore than I would find in a suburb of
Dayton, Ohio. Regarding Nepal, specifically, I had been studying yoga for several years as
well as Eastern philosophies, and wanted to go to India, but the PC has no
India program, and Nepal was the closest I could get.
3. What were your reasons for becoming a volunteer for the Peace Corps?
-See above!
4. Was Nepal your first choice for the Peace Corps?
-Yes.
5. What did you do in order to prepare for your trip to Nepal? (i.e.
physical, mental, emotional, etc.)
-Physically, I worked out like crazy to get strong. I tried to learn a little
bit of the language before I came. I talked to other people who had been to
Nepal in PC and for vacation. I did a lot of yoga.
6. What emotional changes did you experience while you were there?
-I had one period of a few weeks where I had a rough time, after about 2-3
months at my village, and that was because of the lack of emotional space given. I
had so little time to myself that I got very stressed and frustrated and
irritable and it seemed like no one understood me (they probably didn't' !)
But after I took a little break for a few days, I was fine. Other than that, I
have on the whole felt very comfortable here, and can't pinpoint any specific
emotional changes, except a greater sense of awareness and understanding of
people and of the globe. There were ups and downs, of course, and it was
interesting too because I felt like I had no reference frame emotionally, so it
took a while to get centered.
7. What emotional changes did you experience upon your return from Nepal?
-A lot more than I did in Nepal!! When I have gone home for visits, I have
felt extremely overloaded with sensory input, which makes me very tense and I
found that I often felt like I didn't quite fit in any more, like I didn't
understand how things work in the US anymore. That causes some weird feelings
of "where is home now?"
8. In what ways have you changed as a result of your overall experience in
Nepal?
-I feel a very strong sense of "there's no going back" - my life will never be
the same, I can't go back to that life in the suburbs. I have become aware of
too many other levels of existence, and I no longer seem to need the security
that a life in the US appears to offer. I guess that translates to confidence
(?), or at least a lack of fear to a degree, and much more purpose in my life,
even if I don't know how it will manifest concretely.
1. How long and where did you stay in Nepal?
-1 year in Kavre District, 1 year in Kathmandu.
2. What type of training did you receive prior to the start of your
assignment? (i.e. language, culture, religion, etc.)
-3 months of language and technical (education system, etc.) training
3. In what regions did you teach/travel?
-All over Nepal! I was involved in trainings, both teacher training and PC
trainings, from the Far West (Doti, Baitedi) to the Terai (Janakpur) to the
East (Dharan) and in the Central region also (Kathmandu and around)
4. What were the cultural differences in Nepal versus the United States?
-This is too huge to answer! But in a nutshell, Nepal is a feeling nation, the
US is a thinking nation. Nepal works differently, not so focused on time and
deadlines and goals at ALL. More more emphasis on people than on results.
5. What differences did you experience in the educational settings and
strategies between Nepal and the United States?
-Another huge one-I think picturing US school maybe 100 years ago might
approximate it here in Nepal now. The system here is based on rote learning
and the authority of textbooks (any written material) and teachers. There is
little value placed on questioning or exploring. Education is just to transmit
facts, but also "to become a better person" - that's what kids will say if you
ask them why they go to school No one (or few) say "to get a good job".
6. How does education vary in terms of equity, enrollment, and efficiency
among the following regions:
A. The Terai (plain region)? - very overcrowded classes and insufficient
teachers
B. The Pahar (hill region)? - not so overcrowded, but very poor physical
conditions of schools
C. The Parbat (Himalayan region)? - Don't know
7. How would you best describe the needs of children and adults in an
educational setting within Nepal?
-Assuming the physical needs could be met (enough room in schools, enough
teachers, lighting, teaching supplies, etc.) then the teachers need training
and support, there needs to be a greater sense of professionalism in the
teaching field.
8. What obstacles or limitations (if any) did you experience while you were
in Nepal? (i.e. government influence, visas, language, illness, etc.)
-Some illness, nothing huge though. Language limitations are frustrating.
Sometimes gender issues (disrespecting women) although I experienced that very
little.
9. In your opinion, how do you see the future of education in Nepal?
-It has a lot of potential. There are tons of dollars given to the program
annually, and almost as many consultants. But it will require a concerted
cohesive effort. Right now it is too fragmented, splintered, and no focus on
improved what's in place. It's always some new plan.There's no stability.
10. What recommendations would you make in terms of improving the
educational system in Nepal?
-Nepalese need to head up their own reform effort . There is too much outside
influence from people who try to inject Western ideas/systems, and they just
dont' transfer here, 80% of the time. Their system should be made simple and
basic. Too many high-level ideas are tried, when the real problems are things
like untrained teachers, and crumbling buildings.
1. What current English Language Learner (ELL) strategies (if any) would be
applicable towards effective teaching in Nepal?
-I'm sorry, I dont' know of particular ESL strategies.
2. What strategies and methods did you use for your teaching assignment?
-I used hands-on , student-centered, activity-based teaching 100% of the
time. (science and English)
3. Has your experience abroad influenced your current and/or future
teaching/business methods?
-I dont' know yet-I'll find out this fall! I remember thinking, while I was
teaching in Nepali, that if I ever teach in English again, I will have no
excuse for not being able to communicate a concept! I think Iwill have a much
better sense of how to explain things very simply, concisely, etc b/c of my
having to teach in another language.
~
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