Muriel's (Nina) CIDRE Portfolio
I am an ESL / Spanish teacher from Colombia. I have been a teacher for over 20 years and I have taught ESL in all levels (K - 12) and Spanish in middle school and high school.
I enjoy traveling and learning about other countries and cultures.
Written Reflections:
1. One Austrian Education System Reflection
I was surprised to find out that the Austrian education system and the American education system have so many things in common, especially when it refers to teacher education.
Both countries require the student to have finished high school before starting education as a career.
They both have seen the number of students interested in becoming teachers decrease and are trying to develop strategies to attract more people to study those careers.
When teachers get their diploma and start working, the school provides them with a mentor who helps them to learn the ropes; however, in The U.S. the mentor only needs 4 years of experience while in Austria they must have at least five.
Teachers in both countries get evaluated by the principal or other school administrators.
2. One Film Review
Woman in Gold
The name of the movie and the picture representing were not appealing to me. I was not expecting much; however, I was pleasantly surprised by the story and the cast. It was a great movie. Some scenes were really touching and had me fully engaged. I liked the flashbacks scenes and their transitions. They gave me a good picture of what Austria was like during the Nazi occupation. It felt like they opened a door for me, so I could see the fashion of certain social class during that time, the hair styles, the makeup, and some lifestyles among other fascinating facts. I also liked how they added a wedding celebration to illustrate the customs of the elite during that time. I think the cast was well chosen and the performance by Helen Mirren was superb as usual. It was not Ryan Reynolds' best performance, but it was not that bad either. I highly recommend the movie. It is definitely worth your time!
3. One Book Review
The Only Woman in the Room by Marie Benedict
Hedy Lamarr
When I saw the cover of the book I had no idea what to expect. When I started reading the reviews in the first pages it became more appealing. I like how the author makes you form a personal connection to the main character. Something that surprised me was that, even though the story took place during the World War II, it doesn't include many details referring to it; it just mentions a few important events that impacted her life and motivated her to make life changing decisions. I think the author spent a lot of time on Hedy's life as a wife and did not dig deep into her facet as a Hollywood actress and, even more important, how she became an inventor who designed a torpedo guidance system that was adopted by the military.
4. Wien Museum Johann Strauß Apartment -Praterstraße 54, 1020 Wien, Austria
This building has the apartment where the famous musician once lived. I went there and took some pictures.
5. Two Visual Thinking Analyses
I am impressed by the number of churches in Austria. I did not know that there were so many catholics here.
When I saw this image at the altar of one of the churches I visited, I felt peace and I felt compelled to close my eyes and say a prayer.
The churches I have visited are beautiful and looking at the images and ornaments relaxes me.
It is amazing how faith knows no borders and churches attract countless people regardless of their country of origin, language or race.
I wonder if the same thing happens in Eastern Europe countries.
The Most Famous Author of All Times
This enigmatic statue, by the sculptor Miklós Ligeti, is located in Budapest City Park in the courtyard of Vajdahunyad Castle.
Although it was meant to represent a nameless story teller that was the notary of a Hungarian king, for me it represents something else. It made me think of all those authors who could not use their names out of fear, shame, or other unknown reason.
6. Four Cultural Insights Posted as WhatsApp Texts
Prater Amusement Park
I was amazed to find out it is one of the oldest amusement parks in the world and its ferris wheel, at over 200 feet tall, is the world's oldest operating ferris wheel.
The ferris wheel is a symbol of Vienna and you can see many souvenirs such as snow globes and magnets with its image.
For me Prater Amusement Park is a magical place. I loved the fact that there is something cool for every person to do regardless of age or interests.
Refresh / Refill
People in this picture are gathering around the mister and lining up to refill their water bottles.
I was greatly surprised by this machine. It is very hot and humid outside and the chances of having a heat stroke are high; therefore, I think it is great to have these in the most crowded areas.
The mist helps us cool down and the water dispenser lets us replenish our water bottles for free.
Bike lanes
It was great to see so many bike lanes and people of all ages riding bicycles. Seeing people using a healthier and more environmentally friendly way to go places was refreshing and made me wish we had more bike lanes here in the U.S. It also motivated me to use my bike even if it is only once a week.
Even though we had been warned about not invading their special lane, some of us got startled by the honk and some by the yelling of cyclists.
Art & Music
Vienna, the capital of Austria, is well known for its musical heritage and its vibrant art scene.
7. One Travel Writing Piece (Site-Based or Experience-Based)
Mariazell is a beautiful and cute town situated in the Valley of the Salza. It takes a few hours to go there from Vienna, but it is well worth it.
We had to walk about one mile from the train station to downtown. Our first stop was the Bürgeralpe. People have the option to hike up the mountain, ride a bike, run, or take a cable car. I decided to get the last option, even though I am afraid of heights. Its landscapes are breathtaking. You can see the Alps and the different contrasts in vegetation and houses. There are a couple of restaurants that offer local food. There is a beautiful tower and I went all the way up to enjoy the view.
After an hour, I ventured to the basilica. I enjoyed this place very much. It was beautiful inside and I liked seeing so many Catholics going there to pray.
My third stop was the souvenir shops around the basilica. I found several intresting things to bring back home.
I decided to walk around the town to see some neighborhoods. The streets were narrow, but there were not many cars; most people were walking and a few were riding bikes.
Mariazell has the typical places that any town has, but the cemetery caught my attention. It inspires peace. It looks beautiful and well kept.
I really enjoyed my visit. Mariazell is quaint and everything is within a walkable distance. I also found out that it is well known for being a hub of winter sports and a pilgrimage destination.
8. One Lesson Plan
This topic can be taught and used for all grade levels (k-12). It will be customized to the elementary school where I teach, and I will use it with my ESL (English as a Second Language) students in grade levels first to fifth (1 – 5). The lesson will take a few days and the length and complexity of the activities will depend on each grade level. I will also differentiate instruction because I have some newcomers who just arrived in the U.S. a few weeks ago.
Link to Prior Knowledge: vocabulary – simple present tense – Venn Diagram
Objectives:
Learn about some Austrian cultural practices.
Compare and contrast the cultural practices in their country of origin and Austria’s. Depending on their level, they can also compare those two and the U.S.
Standards:
RI.1.9, RI.2.9, RI.3.9, RL.4.9, RI.5.6
WIDA ELD Standards Statements
English Language Development Standard 5: English language learners communicate information, ideas, and concepts necessary for academic success in the content area of Social Studies.
This lesson can use cross-curricular activities: Science, Social Studies, E.L.A., etc.
I will just do a general lesson plan and I will make adjustments when teaching it.
I do:
I’ll show them a few pictures of cultural practices in Austria and ask them to predict what they are about.
Then I will tell them about my experience in Austria and explain each picture. Upper grade levels can also Google more information.
I’ll explain the context and answer questions they may have.
We do:
Students will make comparisons between the cultural practices in Austria and in the U.S. and / or their countries of origin.
I will draw a Venn Diagram on the board and the students will help me fill it out with the information previously discussed. I will guide them through the process.
They do:
They will use the cues from the Venn Diagram to write complete sentences. They will use correct capitalization and punctuation.
They will use colored paper to do their own Venn Diagram and then they will write the sentences legibly, so the project can be posted outside the classroom.
They will engage, individually, in a Kahoot game to review what they have learned.
9. Three Technical Projects on Selected Cultural Theme
As an ESL teacher I see material to teach everywhere. Before my trip, I wanted to do a project on street food; however, I did not see any street food vendor in Vienna or any other city we visited with the group.
In our profession we have to be resourceful and flexible, so I decided to focus on some cultural aspects that I observed during my visit.
Some Important Places in Vienna, Austria
One Second Every Day