Tram Ride to Rome International School: Lessons Learned
2012 Italy Travel Observations of a Bilingual SPED Teacher Day No. 4
This is the fourth post about my trip to Italy in the summer of 2012. It was one of my requirements to complete the GWU Education Specialist Degree that was granted through the partnership of US Education Department, the school district I worked for and George Washington University. Even then, I was writing from the POV of a Filipino Educator teaching in the USA. There are hidden gems in these journal entries worthy to be shared.
Filipinos, again, were my saviors today. Two of us chose to go to the Roman International School by public tram instead of by taxi. However, the instruction given to us was incomplete and did not specify the direction of the line. We were waiting on the other side when we finally realized that we should cross the street. When we finally rode the tram, I was happy to see two Filipinos. I spoke with them and they gave us directions on how to go to Via Panama, 25 where the Rome International School is. They also told us it is important to validate our tickets because if an inspection suddenly occurs and our ticket is not validated, we will be fined 50 Euros. I asked them if they speak Italian. They told me they do, it was easy to learn. I was amazed.
Finally Found the School
When we found the gate to the Rome International School, the guard did not understand any of our English words. I then showed him my GWU ID and he immediately comprehended that we are a part of the group inside. The lady at the first floor told us that our group is in the 5th floor and we can use the elevator.
It was very old and has two doors. As shown in the picture on top, the first door looked like a regular door and if you will look in the middle glass, the second door folds in the middle as you push it. It was narrow and slow and can barely fit a wheelchair if a student with physical disability was enrolled in this school. Later on, the staff told us that students rarely use it and they had no wheelchair-bound students.
Lost but Saw More as a Result
When we went to the 5th floor, it was empty and no one was there. We rode the elevator back but instead of going to the ground floor, we ended up in the 2nd floor where two ladies were cleaning. They told us to go to the 4th floor and we finally joined our group.
Technology and an Antiquated Elevator
Rome International School is a non-denominational school that follows the British curriculum. The principal mentioned a lot of things but what I liked is their plan to use iPads and develop their own apps for student and staff use. After using their antiquated elevator, it was encouraging to hear him talk about using technology in teaching students. I am a great believer of the right use of technology. Teachers tire. But computers can be used to teach a skill or topic again and again. This is especially useful for students with severe cognitive needs who learn through repetition and drill.
Tram Trip Taught Me More about Italy
The trip to Rome International School taught me more than the actual speech by the principal. I learned to use my Filipino culture and language to get help. When the guard at the Rome International School fail to understand English, using pictures (my GWU ID) as an alternative form of communication worked. This also works when I am teaching my students who are English Language Learners. There is a universal quality in pictures that helps people with different languages understand each other. And lastly, even schools with antiquated elevators have lofty technological plans. Next entry is about Florence and wrong language assumptions.