• Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Mail
  • e-Catalog
  • Gift Catalog
  • Donate
  • Register Now
  • Contact Us
Call Us: 800-487-1074
Global Volunteers
  • Countries
    • International Partnerships:
      • China
      • Cook Islands
      • Cuba
      • Ecuador
      • Greece
      • Italy (Sicily)
      • Nepal
      • Peru
      • Poland
      • Portugal
      • St Lucia
      • Tanzania
      • Vietnam
    • USA Programs:
      • Aguadilla – Puerto Rico
      • Blackfeet Reservation – Montana
      • Española – New Mexico
      • Rio Grande Valley – Texas
  • Projects
    • Community Work Projects
      • Delivering Essential Services
      • Teaching Conversational English
      • Supporting Community Development
      • Supplementing School-Based Curricula
      • View All Community Work Projects
  • Dates & Fees
    • Seasonal
      • Spring
      • Summer
      • Fall
      • Winter
    • Monthly
      • January
      • February
      • March
      • April
      • May
      • June
      • July
      • August
      • September
      • October
      • November
      • December
      • All Service Program Dates
  • Give
    • Giving Options:
      • Donate Now
      • Changemakers Club
      • Gift Catalog
      • Ways to Give
      • Philanthropy
  • Impact
  • News
  • Request Information
  • Search
  • Menu Menu
Conversational English, Volunteer Voices Greece

A Volunteer’s First Day Of Teaching in Crete

teaching English

This excerpt from one day of a team journal describes team members’  daily assignments on a Greece service program.


After another beautiful sunrise and another animated discussion with my other team members at breakfast, we all made plans for the morning.  When I say animated, I mean a lot of laughing and  a lot of sharing of ideas.   Since our teaching hours are all in the afternoon and evening, there was much exchange of ideas on how everyone should spend the morning getting to know our Cretan hosts better.

Regrouping after our adventures to museums and towns and beaches, everyone was very eager and excited to start our work at the school and plan activities with the students.  Being the first day, our team leader Sam said much of the evening activities would center around us getting to know each other and of course learning how to navigate back and forth to our various schools.

Bus tickets in hand and taxis away, we all venture forth.  On arrival, everyone reported that they were treated with smiles and excitement.  They were your typical classrooms in sense that everyone wanted to talk  to us and each other. The energy and enthusiasm to me was astounding. It was 6’clock at night, they had had a full day of school and activities and here they were excited to learn even more.

Their questions to us were specific and insightful for minds so young and I had to admit moments where I had to gather me thoughts so I could give them the answers they deserved.  There was a lot of laughing and exchange of ideas too.  Pictures shown of our families and questions answered about theirs.  Debates held between each other moderated by us and their teachers.

After four hours and with two different classes each, we all left smiling and for myself a bit on the blown away side.  As my head hit my pillow that night lesson plans and new topics flew through my head for a good hour before, I slept. Because, motivated by love for my charges, I want to be fearless and free.

Cynthia.

Andree and Lynn teaching 3rd graders.

Andree and Lynn teaching 3rd graders.

Marta conversing with 5th graders.

Marta conversing with 5th graders.

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Pocket
October 5, 2015/by Sam Pinakoulaki
https://globalvolunteers.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/P1010057.jpg 1125 1500 Sam Pinakoulaki https://globalvolunteers.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/2014-GlobalVolunteersLogo-Web.png Sam Pinakoulaki2015-10-05 10:41:052019-02-20 18:42:33A Volunteer’s First Day Of Teaching in Crete
0 replies

Leave a Reply

Want to join the discussion?
Feel free to contribute!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Partner Communities

  • China (62)
  • Cook Islands (44)
  • Cuba (112)
  • Ecuador (89)
  • Greece (70)
  • Italy (52)
  • Montana (50)
  • Nepal (19)
  • New Mexico (2)
  • Peru (110)
  • Poland (97)
  • Portugal (44)
  • Puerto Rico (2)
  • South Dakota (8)
  • St Lucia (56)
  • Tanzania (230)
  • Texas (5)
  • Vietnam (33)

Categories

  • Classroom Assistance (7)
  • Conversational English (93)
  • Cultures and Traditions (136)
  • Development Impact (121)
  • Family Volunteering (61)
  • Free Time Options (79)
  • Group Volunteering (19)
  • News and Updates (146)
  • Partners' Stories (16)
  • Projects for Professionals (23)
  • Reaching Children's Potential (236)
  • Ripple Effect (7)
  • Service-Learning (49)
  • Staff Worldwide (25)
  • Volunteer Voices (683)
  • Why I Give (18)

Tags

American Indian culture Care for children Caribbean island College groups Conversational English Cuba people-to-people development impact Earthbox gardens Essential Services food insecurity Funding your fee gender equality Health and nutrition High school groups Labor projects retiree volunteers Spring break student volunteer summer volunteer program support children Support women teaching children teaching english team leader things to do peru top places to visit peru tourism cook islands tours peru travel peru volunteer benefits Volunteer impact volunteer time off work on reservations Work with youth youth volunteering

Get Global Volunteers News Here!

Enter your email address to receive fresh new posts in your inbox.

  • About Us
  • Boards of Directors and Advisors
  • US and International Staff
  • Our Beginnings
  • Our Vision
  • Community Partners
  • Collaborators
  • Compare Us
  • Volunteer Vacations FAQs
  • Accountability and Agreements
  • Travel Risks
  • Impact and Outcomes of Service
  • Donate to Global Volunteers
  • Donate to a Volunteer
  • Money Matters – Explaining Your Service Program Contribution
  • Discounts & Fundraising
  • Alumni Center
  • Covid-19 Policy
  • News/Media
  • Privacy Policy
  • Agreements
  • Site Map
  • Contact
  • Podcast
  • Volunteer Portal
  • Employment
Global Volunteers
375 East Little Canada Road
St. Paul, MN 55117-1628 USA
(800) 487-1074 | toll-free
(651) 482-0915 | fax
globalvolunteers.org
email@globalvolunteers.org
Federal EIN: 36-3352680

JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST!

Subscribe to receive updates, new blog posts, and inspiring stories from our work around the world.

Global Volunteers - Partners in Development ® | © Copyright 2002 - Present Global Volunteers
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Mail
  • Global Volunteers is a 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit organization. Our tax ID is 36-3352680. All donations are tax deductible to the full extent provided by the law.
  • Send feedback about this web site and its administration.
Final Reflections from Team # 250Our Journey to The Host Community.
Scroll to top