Staff Interview with Jennifer de Garcia

Describe a typical day at work.

A typical day in Preschool is full of love and adventure. You start the day prepping your materials making sure you have everything needed before your students arrive, because once they arrive the adventure begins and the day flies by.

The day always starts with lots of hugs as they walk into the class. We start with Circle Time, beginning with prayer and discuss the activities of the day, routines are established, and goals set for the day. There’s lots of singing and dancing.

Creative juices are flying throughout the day with all the art activities that take place so the children have a hands-on experience in learning English through what they are doing, through routines, play, and lots of movement. The children are always learning, even during snack time, from giving Thanks in prayer to learning vocabulary for the different foods they bring in.

Recess is a great way to see what they come up with on their own and how they interact and play freely with one another. It’s always a joy when they ask you to play too. Then we come inside to wind down by washing our hands, refreshing ourselves with water, and unwinding through a good story.

Story time is a great part of the day where we can instill a love for reading; it’s great seeing how the kids read the stories on their own, either to each other or their favorite stuffed animal, imitating their teacher and reliving their favorite part.

The books we use, which are from Amco, help students learn methods that develop a multi-competent profile that allows them to meet today’s challenges and reach beyond the knowledge presented in books. It helps us reach the multiple intelligences of each child.

It’s a great resource that we have been using for two years now and the support given through the editorial makes teaching so much easier. Then before you know it, it’s time to say goodbye to your little friends.

What makes Christian American School of Guatemala special?

I think the activities held to bring families together that create that bond between teachers and their students’ families is very special because many leave behind their friends and family to share their passion for learning onto other.

How do you help support participants?

I try and do my best to help new teachers who come to Guatemala for the first time, by sharing my experience with them and guiding them the best way I can when help is needed. I also provide contacts and recommendations that have helped me along the way. CAS does their best in supporting new teachers through finding housing close by so that transportation to and from school isn’t an issue.

What does meaningful travel mean to you?

Meaningful travel is when your travel enriches your life in some way—through focusing on helping others, discovering new things that help you appreciate the things around you, and learning about others, their culture, and their way of thinking. 

There is no greater way to make something more meaningful than by sharing what’s most important to you.