Gracias y adiós Santander

After a busy weekend of taking in the amazing sites of Santander, we gave our final presentation today at a different branch of the Escuela Normal Superior de Bucaramanga (ENSB). The audience consisted of over 300 students who are all studying to be primary teachers and we presented about US culture, our home schools, and strategies that we use in teaching a second language. I was so impressed by the enthusiasm and motivation of the students to be the best teachers they can be to better their country. One interesting discovery today was that even adults are able to attend the ENSB, to participate in the teaching pedagogy classes... there were many such students in the audience today. For example, I spoke with a woman who left her position as a university instructor in the field of science. She told me she wanted to be an elementary school teacher because she constantly saw the gaps in learning among her university students, so she wanted to be a primary teacher so she could help fix the problem. Throughout our visits to schools in Santander, this is the type of spirit that we saw from teachers and students- an intense drive to better their country and the world.

The access that we've had to schools has been incredible and the welcome that we've received at every turn has been overwhelming. Gracias a todos en Santander, especialmente los de Bucaramanga en la ENSB, que nos han recibido con brazos abiertos. Wisconsin los espera.

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