Aspirations related to context and time matter.

Working with Rafael was truly a transformation for our MYP Language Acquisition department. Over 2 years, we worked with him both virtually and in person in single language groups and collectively to create a concept-driven, inquiry-based programme that spans 4 languages. The true power in working with Rafael comes from the fact that he «speaks teacher», meaning that he can take theoretical ideas and pull them into classroom practice at a practical level.

He helps teachers experience unit planning and lesson delivery from both the teacher and student side and continuously modeled, demonstrated, and facilitated through classroom learning experiences our teachers could implement immediately.

While with us, he did a lab lesson in Chinese, a language none of us spoke, for a class of grade 6 students and truly allowed us to step outside ourselves to observe concept-based classroom practice without any of our own barriers due to our own language experience.

He helped us develop assessment tools, unit plans, and constantly reiterated the importance of authentic texts and situations for language learning. Through our work with Rafael, our 4 languages were able to create common conceptual units that, though differing in specific elements of each language, would allow teachers to discuss common assessments and common conceptual understandings.

Our work with Rafael gave us another reason to come together other than being assigned to the same department. We had common classroom practices and approaches that could now be shared, co-developed, and reflected upon despite teaching different languages. Rafael provided a knowledge base and a common experience that allowed our meetings to be more purposeful, and after two years of working with him, we have been able to move forward with the work independently. This was the true goal and the true power that came from our time with him.