Faces of Na’atik: Bonnae

We recently welcomed Bonnae, a teacher from Denver, who spent two weeks at Na’atik studying Spanish with Maestro Cesar.  Towards the end of her immersion program she took the time to speak with us about the motivations behind her trip to Mexico and her experiences both at the school and in Carrillo.

Why were you looking to improve your Spanish?

That question is a little complicated, but where I live in Colorado the majority of my students speak Spanish as their first language. For me it is part of making sure I can be equitable and am able to make connections for my students between the concepts that they know in Spanish and the material I am teaching. It wasn’t just about learning the language but also about understanding cultural context, so that I can be respectful of my students and their traditions.

The impact of the pandemic on teacher staffing levels has also resulted in me having to teach some classes in Spanish, and I wanted to improve to better serve the students’ needs.

Why did you choose to travel to Mexico to study?

Most of my students are from Mexico, and my goal is to understand them, their families and the Spanish that they speak. Before researching for this trip, I hadn’t realized how different Spanish is in different countries, and I think it is important that I am using the words and phrases that my students would use.

How have you found your time here in Felipe Carrillo Puerto?

Everything has been completely amazing! I didn’t ever think I was the kind of person who would enjoy living with a homestay family, as I am quite introverted and enjoy my own space and my own downtime, so I was a little worried - especially with the added dimension of speaking another language with them the whole time. However, from the moment I was picked up and taken to my host family everything was great. They were so welcoming and so patient, we were joking together in Spanish by the second or third day!

My homestay family had some of their relatives visit, which gave me the opportunity to be a part of real family experiences such as everyone playing la loteria together and celebrating birthdays etc. Their daughter is also a teacher, who teaches the same exact age as me! We have talked about ways to create cross-cultural experiences for our students such as creating sister classes! 

My teacher, Cesar, was great too, answering any questions I had and giving me a real feel for the town and its unique history. I felt the lessons were all encompassing, not only improving my language but giving me insights into culture, religion and day-to-day life here in this town.

It’s been such a wonderful couple of weeks and I find it hard to imagine it could have been any better, honestly.

Did you feel your teacher was able to model your classes on what you needed to work on?

Absolutely. I was lucky enough to have one-on-one classes! I am always someone who has a lot of questions, such as about how some things worked in schools and language here, and Cesar was always able to answer. He was always very prepared and had a plan, while also being open to the idea that if I had a question about something and wanted to explore it, he could adapt. The combination of traditional techniques and the use of music and song and Cesar’s passion for the language really opened my eyes to some of the really beautiful parts of Spanish, and not just conjugating verbs. He was able to bring things like tenses to life by showing me their meaning and depth. It was much more interesting than just staring at worksheets.

What has been the most difficult part of your classes?

I think two weeks’ immersion seems like a lot when you are planning to come, but actually the most difficult part is realizing quite how much there is to learn and how far I have to go. Having never taken formal classes before, learning mostly from conversation and being around the language, I hadn’t appreciated quite how complicated some parts of Spanish can be. I see this as a positive though, because I am better placed to understand what I need to learn to have professional conversations with parents.

Will you be continuing to learn in the future?

Oh yeah! While this immersion experience is another level of authenticity, I am around Spanish all day every day in my working life too. My colleagues all speak Spanish as their first language or fluently as a second language and my teaching assistant is a native speaker as well. I think it is incredibly important that I continue and I will have a lot of opportunities to practice. Combining these with a really intentional and separate way to learn is really important too.

What advice would you give to anyone considering coming to Na’atik

I would tell them that, like with any kind of travel, they should just be open to the experience and not come in with any preconceived ideas. Try to understand the people and the place so you can experience the richness of the place rather than just bringing your own ideas with you.

As a beginner I was worried about my first day, thinking about speaking Spanish in class and at meals etc, but by the second day it started to feel natural. The habit builds so quickly when you are in a place like this. 

I would tell people it is a really cool experience, and they should definitely consider it.

I can see myself coming back here every year, and I know I will stay in contact with the people I have met here.

It was fantastic to have Bonnae here studying with us, and hope she continues to improve her Spanish and be part of the Na’atik family for years to come.

If you are interested in an immersion experience you can read more about it here, or get in contact with us at say@naatikmexico.org.