Visitor to Mexico
By ALISON LYNN CAMACHO SPECIAL TO THE COURIER

PHOTO PROVIDED Alison Lynn Camacho,the author of this article, relaxesduring her recent trip to Mexico.

On June of this year, I was selected to participate in the English Language Fellow Program. The English Language Fellow Program is a diplomatic program funded by the U.S. Department of State and administered by Georgetown University. The Fellow program sends experienced educators to all regions of the world for a ten month period in order to work with Ministries of Education and other related institutions. One of the main goals of the program is to further mutual understanding between the peoples of the host country and the U.S.

As an English Language Fellow, my post was to be in Durango, Mexico, a large, sparsely populated state in north, central Mexico bordering the western slopes of the Sierra Madre Mountains. In September, after a long three week wait for our visas to be ready, my husband and I drove from my parent’s home in Ormond Beach, Florida all the way to Monterrey, Mexico. We drove our little, gray Toyota Corolla packed full with 10 months worth of things and our husky-mix dog, Cindy, the whole way without a hitch. In Monterrey, I met with officials at the US Embassy for a tour of the embassy and a security briefing. Then, we were on our way again for another long drive from Monterrey to Durango. The dry, mountainous, desert landscape on the way to Durango was mesmerizing. I was looking forward to meeting people and helping English Language education in Durango.

Now I’ve been in Durango for almost four months and I can truly say that it has been a valuable experience. I have been working very closely with officials from Durango’s Secretaria of Education (SEP) helping them develop teacher training modules and giving teacher training workshops to supervisors and teachers from a pilot program for teaching English in Primary schools. The pilot program has been up and running for six years and this year it will be evaluated by the Secretaria of Education. They will then decide whether to keep the program or not. In addition to the teacher training, part of my job as an English Language Fellow is to write up an evaluation of the program and present it to SEP officials. I’m also conducting teacher training workshops for supervisors from secondary schools and teacher training colleges to help them with the transition of English in Primary schools to English in Secondary Schools.

I have come across several obstacles during my fellowship. In general, there is a lack of money, resources and support for English programs and teachers in Mexico. In addition, the bureaucracy here limits advancement. Nevertheless, the teachers and supervisors I have worked with are eager to learn new innovative teaching methodolgy and techniques. Even though most of them have little or no training as teachers and most of them have to work with very limited resources, they still manage to conduct an effective and interesting English class. Many of the English teachers and supervisors in Mexico have realized that English is the world language and they know how important it is for the citizens of Mexico to learn English in order to compete in the world economy. Still, several obstacles remain. I believe that my work here in Durango has not only helped Mexican English teachers to teach more effective lessons, but it has also helped people to realize the importance of learning English and the U.S.’s role in supporting English Language learning and diplomancy all around the world.

On a personal level, living in Mexico, has made me appreciate life in the United States even more. Even though most Mexicans are warm and friendly, the food is delicious and the weather in Durango is beautiful, I know that I would not want to live here for a long period of time. Most Mexicans do not have the same opportunities that we have in the United States. In addition, the quality of living is not the same. They do not have the same resoucres that we have in the States and much of Mexico is polluted and dangerous. Fortunatley, Durango is quite safe; however, I can never leave my car door or house unlocked like I used to growing up in Bath, New York. This experience has taught me a lot about Mexico, the Mexican people and about myself. I will continue to do my best to make the best impact that I can on this country. I am happy to have had this opportunity to do so.