Virtual learning hasn’t killed the passion! (Am I really saying this?)

Who would’ve ever guessed eight months ago that we’d be in the middle of a worldwide pandemic with no end in sight, where our children, nieces, nephews and students would be isolated from their classmates and forced to learn at home on computers, phones and TVs?Since Na’atik had to abruptly shelf its growing onsite Spanish and Maya intercultural immersion program and its local English language program in March, I felt as though I’d been thrown into a tornado of unwanted change. As was the case around the world, one day to the next we were forced to go virtual if we were to survive.  I’m a classroom teacher. When I taught, it was an ‘alive’ experience. I never sat, was always acting things out, working with each student during class, aware of which students were engaged and which ones were struggling. The personal interaction with my students was what made me fall in love with teaching. When I would hear of others teaching online, all I could think of was, ‘How awful. Who could you ever teach and learn through a screen?’The reality that we didn’t have a choice and we would need to move to virtual platforms literally made me ache inside because of what I believed would be lost. With all of my own negativity about online classes and virtual learning, I was overwhelmed at how I’d be able to enthusiastically get my teaching staff and our students onboard to make this switch. Now that we’re months into our online Spanish, Maya and English classes, I have to admit that there’s no doom and gloom here at all. Our students are learning and our teachers are having fun while becoming tech whizzes. I would’ve never imagined seeing my tech-phobic husband sharing documents via Google Drive, getting excited to split his screen to review grammar points, and laughing from his gut while sitting at a laptop with a headset on. One of our English teachers who was dreading the switch sent me a message: “side note, these online classes are pretty cute”.Our teachers have found ways to show their creativity through fun, interactive activities as they engage their students of all ages. Our local students are creating art projects, doing science experiments, and creating videos, thrilled to have interpersonal connections with their classmates and teacher. We’re receiving feedback from our Spanish students that they are speaking and understanding as much as ever and we even have a Maya language student studying all the way from her home on a tiny island in the Pacific Ocean.Although we were forced to open this new chapter of virtual learning, it has been an incredibly positive experience. Once again, I see that when there’s a passion for learning and teaching, the fun and fulfillment don’t go away... even if the classroom does. A special note from Na’atik:We are fundraising for additional Emergency Scholarships in order to support our students who would be otherwise unable to return to Na’atik due to the impact of the pandemic. If you can donate, please click on the button below.