Yesterday we started out day with a trip to the Ministry of Education where we spent a couple hours listening to some very nice welcome speeches. The Ingles Abres Puertas program has been made a top priority by Michelle Bachelet, the current President of Chile, so TV media were present which later featured our arrival on the news. We learned about the current school system and how it would affect us.
Later we went back to the hostel for lunch. We had lentil soup, bread (bland with no butter or jam available) and fruit (bananas or apples). After lunch we walked to an Institute which tested our Spanish comprehension. It was the most horrible test I´ve ever taken. Listening portions of the test were incomprehensable because of the extremely fast paced dialogue in addition to the echoing sounds that this very old building caused. I think most everyone walked out feeling two inches tall.
After that we meandered our way to the Instituto de Norteamericano where we spent the rest of the day taking a spanish class. Now, in Spanish classes I´m accustomed to having the teacher talk primarily in English and explain grammar concepts, etc. in English. Not here. EVERYTHING is taught in Spanish. If the class doesn´t understand a question or concept or lesson in Spanish, there is no translating to English so the class understands. This is a new way of teaching I have not been exposed to.
Today was much of the same, learning rules, teaching methods, and having spanish class. That is it for now. Stay tuned.
Pictured above is just walking through the streets with a couple friends.
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