My visa just arrived, so now I know I am definitely on my way to Azerbaijan. I applied for the TEA program a year and a half ago, so my upcoming departure has felt like distant almost fictional event to me. Since I found out that I would be traveling to Azerbaijan instead of Jordan in November, I have spent countless quick minutes on Google looking up the map of Azerbaijan, the Wikipedia history, the CIA factbook info, Lonely Planet touristy info, Azerbaijani food, culture and dress. I even managed to find out about a famous Azerbaijani Jazz singer, Ella Leya who has a new album, “The Secret Lives of Women.”
What I feel completely clueless about is Azerbaijani education, which is the reason I am going to Azerbaijan. I have no idea about their system of education. Is it vastly different from the Russian system (which I am also clueless about)? Do they stress standards and testing like we do over here? How are their teachers trained, Are they unionized? Are they respected? What are class sizes like? How do they deal with differences in their student population? I am filled with questions. I love being filled with questions, that’s why I love to travel. I will try not to bombard my wonderful host Halima with all my questions at once.
Halima is a bright and exciting person who has clued me in on some small details about education in Azerbaijan, which has helped me put together the workshops I will be doing with the teachers over there. Halima spent five weeks in Nebraska last year, which for a long time East Coaster seems as remote and unfamiliar as Azerbaijan. I look forward to meeting with her and staying with her family. Halima’s enthusiasm about her country, her students, her profession is intoxicating. Every time we have Skyped I have felt more invigorated about my own teaching & students. I know this trip will be amazing!
No comments:
Post a Comment