Day 8—Collaboration with San Pedro Junior College (SPJC)

Looking out at the Caribbean from Ambergris Caye.

Another beautiful breezy and sunny day with the shade a very delightful place to be.  I am really getting exercise here due to biking several miles to “work,” walking in the sand and covering great distances, and swimming.

View looking up while eating breakfast.
 

Having chosen this internship due to the relatively lower cost than others, I am really glad that I am participating.  I think we have been able to provide San Pedro Junior College with lots of ideas with which to improve their program now, in the near future, and in the long term.  I have also learned a lot from them and the other members in our group.  One idea that I would like to implement in my own program in the U.S. is that of an advisory board or committee.  For ESL, I see this as a way for various stakeholders to come together for program improvement.  I would have a couple of students, instructors, myself, my director, and an outside layperson sit on the committee. 

It became clear today that San Pedro Junior College does have some community building events:  a new student sports (volleyball, soccer, and chess) day—held after new student orientation—in which teams divided by program division compete.  The junior college also hosts sports events.  They also hold a dinner before the Christmas break for which the first year students bring food and the second year students bring drinks.  Faculty and staff attend as well.

Ms. Betty and me at San Pedro Junior College.

Two things struck me as interesting as we continued meeting with representatives from San Pedro Junior College:  (1) faculty create their own attendance policy for their class as opposed to having a blanket school attendance policy and (2) students who do not pay are allowed to continue and complete but are not awarded their diploma until their bill is settled.  Therefore, there are students who have the knowledge, skills, and abilities required of an Associate’s Degree but may not pay their bill until their employer demands to see their degree, sometimes years later.

Getting the dynamic down to know when to lead and when to follow in a small group has been a challenge.  I had a fragile moment today in which emotions from my past got the best of me.  I was able to give space and regain my composure.  This was the type of valuable learning experience that comes once every three or four years or so.