| “I am enjoying the learning
experience at St. Michael's College,” writes Rachel during
orientation in July 2005. “Learning about teaching English
with native Greek speakers makes for very interesting classes,
and the practice teaching with Japanese, Colombian, and Korean
students has been very rewarding. I look forward to beginning
my teaching in Lanzhou. I have been told that my primary value
as a foreign teacher will be my native ability in speaking English,
so most of my classes will probably be focused on practicing spoken
English. I will be teaching students who will be future English
teachers, since they are attending Lanzhou Education College,
where I'll be teaching. I am hoping to incorporate a lot of interesting
speaking/listening activities into my classroom, but I have not
received any information yet as to whether I will have a textbook
as well for my classes. I suppose I'll just have to wait and see!”
Lanzhou is the capital city of the Gansu province and one of
the largest cities in northwestern China. Very dry and cool, it
is near the edge of the Gobi Desert, and has many wind and sandstorms.
Some nearby attractions include the western end of the Great Wall
in Wuwei, and the Thousand Buddha Grotto.
Prior to her appointment by the PC(USA), Rachel was an instructor
at the DuBois Center in Du Bois, Illinois, where she led ecological
and team-building activities for upper elementary and junior high
children.
Rachel has a bachelor’s degree in Spanish, with a minor
in Asian studies, from Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
She’s a member of Zion United Church of Christ in New Baden,
Illinois.
Birthday – May 14
|
