Wow, what an experience!

I have just returned to Poland from Baku. Although I am still a bit disoriented from the 3 hour time difference, driving my wife crazy with waking, falling asleep and requesting meals at strange hours, (plus also complaining, ‘It’s cold here.’ referring to +25 C), I would like to formulate some of my impressions while they are still fresh in memory.

A trainer goes somewhere to share knowledge and expertise, to make positive change, but there is always this added value for him or her: you teach but you also learn from others and grow as well. This is what I got from my Baku experience; this is what enriched me:

1.) The understanding of what the Turkish schools contribute to education in Azerbaijan. The teachers and school administrators attach great importance to quality education, and channel incredible resources into it.

2.) Living briefly in this country. Before I went, I did a bit of homework reading about Azerbaijan and also contacting people who have also been there, but nothing prepared me for the grandeur of Baku and the dynamism of its growth. In my part of the world there is always talk of economic crisis, followed by budget cuts for education and worry caused by low demography. This part of the world , in turn, looks extremely vibrant, with incredible potential. For instance, I was impressed by the facilities in which I was to work with IWBs in every classroom.

3.) The contact with my teaching group that came from Nakhchivan, a place I had never heard of. They turned out to be pleasant, gentle, and good-humored people. We had a lot of common knowledge in terms of global culture, but it was exciting for me to pick up all these little ‘exotic’ elements: the way they addressed me and the others in formal situations, (Hasan Teacher), the gesture of crossing their hearts, the little dance that my people did in class, or the literal meaning of their first names: Sahil, Jahid, Elkhaz, Elchin, Niyameddin, Sakhavat, Sumer, for example.

4.) Finally, the contact with my team, my co-teachers at the smartboard: Anette, Ola, and Vanessa, but also the ‘mission control’ people (Houston, we have a problem!), Kristina and Andi, working hard behind the scenes, making things happen. When you are blessed with a good team, their special combination of EFL expertise and international teaching experience, they share with you tips and materials, they support you, plus you have good fun with them after hours (every good trainer is a superb storyteller and an actor).

I will remember all these things, but what am I not going to miss? The situation when, before a class, I carefully arranged my notes and handouts, and then, because of the heat, my somebody opened the windows and the doors and turned on a fan. Guess what inevitably happened next ;)

Krzysztof