A Different World of Teaching
By: Cheryl G. Chisholm
"To teach is to learn." This saying certainly rings true for Anca Neagu, a teacher at Ridgeland Elementary School.
Neagu is from Romania and teaching in the Foreign Academic & Cultural Exchange Services program. Teachers in this program come from all over the world. The teachers in the FACES program teach in the U.S. for a minimum of three years. These international teachers work to bridge the cultural gap between people in the U.S. and distant countries. Anca is currently doing her third year in the program and has been teaching a total of six years. She us currently working with 2nd through 4th grade.
Anca's purpose for teaching in the FACES program was to learn how other school systems were working. Neagu wishes to implement some techniques she has learned in the U.S., once she returns to Romania. She plans to have her own school, beginning with kindergarten students.
Motivation is the main technique Neagu plans to utilize. "Each child thrives on different types of motivation, including rewards, token economies, games, and time spent on the computer," she said.
Neagu shared that the teaching styles in Romania are more individualized compared to the U.S., where working in groups is more common. She also said that the student activities are more liberal in the U.S. “In Romania, education is more generalized in the early stages. Once they reach high school, the subject material is more specific,” she explained.
Adjusting to teaching in a new culture is not without its challenges. Neagu said that in the beginning, lack of contact information made relations difficult with parents. Fortunately, that has improved over time. "Parents are more open once they realize your genuine interest in the children," she stated.
For Anca, the most rewarding thing about teaching is to know that she's making a significant difference in a child’s educational well-being. "It feels good to know that I am molding that child in a positive way," Neagu said. Anca has also had a lot of success relating to the teachers at Ridgeland Elementary School and Ridgeland Middle School. "They are very helpful with things such as planning periods and my mentor was very helpful in helping me to understand the culture and the students," Anca states.
Neagu's passion for teaching and strong dedication to her students has been a significant asset to RES/RMS. Anca is providing the students with valuable education while learning a new culture of teaching that she can use in her school back home. In a different world of teaching, there is always something to learn.
