As a future educator I am a strong proponent of a well rounded multicultural view of important issues and education. It is very important to me to help my students understand the world as a whole. As the world gets smaller with easy access to people from all over the globe via email, phone, and other means it is important to understand and be sensitive to the racial and cultural differences. As a history major at St. Norbert College with a focus specifically on African history when the opportunity to study in such a prominent historical area presented itself I could not pass it up. While in Accra I will have to become more flexible when it comes to the teaching situations, as well as working with the students. In Ghana specifically in Accra the social atmosphere is much different than the one I am familiar with. The atmosphere is a much more relaxed fluid structure that allows for more flexibility when teaching longer or more complex lessons. With the relaxed attitudes I feel that I will be able to enjoy teaching even more and by loving what I do and not becoming stressed and uptight the students will benefit immensely. Besides opening my eyes to different forms of teaching while observing different techniques used, I will experience a social structure much different than the suburban Midwestern one I am used to. I am excited to see the caring much more friendly atmosphere in the city. The people are typically much more friendly than the keep to yourself attitude of America. Along with the friendliness the open air markets that I have experienced very little of are very busy and used by almost everyone. I am excited to view the market women that I have done deeper research on. I am interested in how the women control the trade in the areas and see how they have much of the power. Women have historically been held down but the women in Ghana have changed this long standing injustice. By viewing all the differences between the U.S. standard and the Ghanaian standard will give me a well balanced view of the world. Also as a history teacher I will have personal experience to bring to the lessons on different cultures and Africa. The slave trade had a major hub very near where I will be located, I will be fortunate to expierence this and can bring back pictures and personal expierence to inform my students.
I believe that my student teaching in Accra should not just effect me but I should have an impact on it. The students will benefit from me being there because they will be receiving a cultural experience that not many people are able to have. I hope to cause the students to become more inquisitive about the world and see that there is a broader world out there with really great people. Outside of the school I hope to make great friends and maybe have some impact on their lives and create memories that will last with them forever. There will be many differences between me and the cultural norm for Ghana but there will also be many similarities. Understanding and accepting the differences while enjoying the similarities I think will be a strong lesson in tolerance and acceptance.
I have always been interested on going abroad because limiting oneself and only seeing one way of life creates little to no personal and social change. This opportunity is amazing and I am excited to learn and develop as much as I can from my future students and friends.