An Odd Critique
My “retirement” house is an old, round house on a tiny Mexican island in the Caribbean. The island of women, Isla Mujeres, is 5 miles long and only half a mile wide, at the widest point.
Once a sleepy fishing village of 300, the tropical sun and Caribbean breezes have turned it into a popular resort for tourists looking for a less frantic experience. The expat community of ‘year-rounders’ and part time ‘snowbirds’, makes up about half of the census population of around 30,000.
But what makes Isla Mujeres attractive is not just the sugar white sand and turquoise waters. The most attractive part of living the Isla experience is the diversity. The people seem to have just one thing in common — a warm, smiling attitude that still remains from that tiny fishing village mentality. There are no strangers here. There may be people you haven’t met, but when you do cross paths you will smile and wish each other a “buen dia”.
I began working with a group of middle school homeschoolers on the island in September. For three hours a day, we meet. We speak Spanish or English during lessons.
One teen is from Brazil and speaks Portuguese at home. One from France speaks French as his first language. Another Mexican native spends a lot of time with her grandparents in Switzerland. German is her other language. Another 8th grader, who was born in Mexico to Israeli parents, speaks Hebrew. This international brew of cultures and languages, religions and histories blends beautifully.
We just finished reading the novel, Divergent, by Veronica Ross. A teen, learning adulting, coming of age in a dystopian society speaks to young adult readers. We watched the movie to compare the book with the film. The assignment was to write a 1500 word critique. Today the first rough draft of the paper was due.
As I struggled to hear and understand the thoughts read in an English heavily flavored with French or Spanish or spoken shyly in German accented Mexican Spanish, I was struck by the beauty of the scene.
These friends, from such different worlds, have managed to form a group that applauds the efforts of their friends. Suggestions come gently with no competitive edge. They support each other. They make moving from writing simple paragraphs to complex, intelligent critiques a fun experience.
I’ve taught all grade levels from kindergarten through college in the USA. Big city schools, suburban small classes, nontraditional and traditional classrooms all have their own dynamics. I have never taught a group that sees all the differences and respects those differences as qualities to be admired.
The essence of Isla Mujeres, wanderers who found an island paradise and happily share with fellow wanderers, is alive in these kids. Kindness and caring are alive in these critiques.
