Personal Statement: South Africa, English Teaching Assistantship

Personal Statement

Adwoa Boateng, South Africa, English Teaching Assistantship At the age of 10, my parents told me that we were moving to America from our homeland of Ghana. In my innocence, I was baffled by my parents’ decision. I was content in my class of over 40 students, sharing textbooks and laughing at the intricate patches on our old uniforms. Apart from the obvious difference in resources, my new school in Maryland introduced me to many new ideas and experiences - different religions, American songs and TV shows, and even hamburgers. As I assimilated into my new environment, I sought out ways to take full advantage of the opportunities I now had. In high school, I realized that many of my friends had little or no knowledge about Africa. I created the African Student Association with my Nigerian friend, Nkechi, to

With no knowledge of Spanish or Latin American culture, I decided to study abroad in El Salvador my sophomore year to expand my cultural horizons. There was striking resemblances to my childhood in Ghana - soccer tournaments, late night communal gatherings, and delicacies sold in kiosks. It was challenging living in a home where no one spoke English, but I made an effort to get to know my host family by relying on context clues and informal sign language. During the day, I worked with 12 University of Maryland students and 3 Salvadoran teachers to teach english and math to kindergarten through 6th grade students (approx. 100 students in total) in Cacahuatal. At the end of my teaching experience, I collaborated with my co-teacher to organize a market day event like the community’s weekend markets, so our students could apply their math and English knowledge. I left El Salvador with a deeper appreciation for education and mentorship, realizing that accessible education, especially for girls, is crucial to