When in Rome...

... do what the children do.

by Amy Ferguson

The environment is abuzz with energy, as young people from hundreds of different countries mix and mingle. Bilingual and trilingual students flip flop between languages effortlessly, expressing themselves in multiple tongues. They have an air of worldliness about them. They shift seamlessly between cultures and surroundings and people. The world is small to them.

As educators, we are used to knowing the answer. We know our craft inside out and we love it. However, when I moved from Scotland to Rome that all went out the window.

I had never taught GCSE or IB before. I was merely a novice in the Italian language. I made new friends, found my way around a new city and found my place in a fast evolving world.

Was it comfortable? Absolutely not.

More often than not, this is how our learners feel in our classrooms. They know next to nothing about our subject. They feel scared and uncomfortable. They don't want to make a mistep. They don't want to look stupid. They are just trying to make sense of a complicated and ever-changing world. They don't have the answers and, sometimes, neither do we.

Failure is encouraged. Therein lies the learning.

I have so much respect for the young people I had the priviledge to educate in Rome. They have a wealth of knowledge and experience beyond their years. They are open to new places and cultures. They move countries, make new friends, learn new languages and start over. Over and over.

When it comes to mistakes, we need to lead by example. Try something new. You don't need to move countries. Push yourself out of your comfort zone. Fail daily. Push yourself to grow. Try and try and try again. Become a student again.

When we are students, we become better teachers.