I can hardly believe that it is now February. It is typically a very calm month in Santiago, as most Chileans take this summer month to travel and escape the concrete jungle.
February 18th will mark 9 years in Chile, and it’s hard to believe the time has gone by so quickly. When I talk with other people that have moved here, I sometimes forget all of the knowledge and experience that I have accumulated. This is my way of helping other teachers that travel around Santiago to be prepared as much as possible.
Before I get into what I see as essential items to have with you, I have some disclaimers:
- I do not teach SENSE classes, and I am therefore not required to carry around a computer or fingerprint reader with me.
- Only about half of my classes use a textbook, so that lightens my load.
- It’s not common that I am out and about for the entire day; I usually have a break of 3 hours or so between classes most days, so I only carry what I need and usually eat lunch and dinner at home.
- This is not a definitive list; if you think something doesn’t work for you or you need to add something else to your bag feel free to do so.
So, here are my recommended items for your bookbag as a teacher traveling around Santiago:
1. Whiteboards, whiteboard markers, and an eraser
Ok, so this one is actually three different things that all work together. Why are they so important?
Whiteboards are crucial to be able to write things for your students to see or for them to write things for you to see. They can practice their spelling and writing, and if they make a mistake they can easily erase it without feeling embarrassed or having to rub an eraser into their paper to make a correction. If you teach a group class, it’s a great way to engage all students at once through dictations or drawing pictures to show their understanding. Students can then take notes into their notebook, but a lot of mine take pictures with their phone to study on the subway or when they have some downtime. I could go on and on, but I think you get the idea.
2. A notebook
I think this one is pretty self-explanatory. You’ll want to take notes about how your classes go as well as write down any ideas that occur to you on a bus, in a coffee shop killing time between classes, or at any other time.
3. Water bottles and snacks
We’re in the middle of a brutal summer in Santiago, and it’s getting into the 90s most days. Given that situation, it’s so important to stay hydrated when you are one the go. I always have 2 Camelbaks with me at all times, and luckily I can fill them up on my way in and out of classes most days of the week.
I also have cereal bars, a cup of fruit, or other small snacks with me if I’m going to be out for an extended period of time. They are easy snacks to eat on the go and keep me from getting hangry.
4. A set of markers and index cards
Sometimes your classes will finish earlier than expected, your students will show up without materials, or something else will come up which will require you to improvise. There are speaking games that you can play based on using sentences that you put on different cards that students generate, and they are a great way of engaging students while practicing vocabulary, pronunciation, and any relevant grammar structures.
5. A basic card game
I personally like my set of The Simpsons playing cards. I can use them to play Go Fish with young students, but I can also pull them out to have a discussion about students’ favorite characters, physical appearance, or use them in conjunction with the speaking games I mentioned earlier.
Another possibility is the game Spot It. It requires players to find matching objects on two cards and is great for both adults and kids. They have created all types of variations, so if you have any students with any specific interests it’s a great way to get them excited about learning.
6. Personal care/comfort supplies
For each person, this will probably look a bit different. For me, it includes the following:
- hand sanitizer (you never know when a restroom will run out of soap)
- two packs of tissues (great for days when you are sweating and also if a restroom has no toilet paper available)
- a travel size container of aspirin
- some bandaids (great for papercuts or other injuries that might happen during the day)
- a pack of gum (particularly for walking into classes after lunch)
- a travel size bottle of moisturizer (in fall and winter)
- a travel size bottle of sunblock (in spring and summer)
7. A book to read or something to do during downtime
It’s inevitable that students are going to run late or cancel at the last minute. I always have a book, some writing to correct, or some other thing to occupy my downtime. I’m currently reading High Performance Habits by Bredon Buchard, and I also carry around my journal to write down my thoughts and to work through problems and find solutions.
For me it’s tempting to just use my phone and waste time on social media, but if you’re looking for an alternative and don’t want to carry around a book there’s a great app called Flipboard. It basically lets you search for news from all over the internet based on keyword, and it compiles it for you and updates it regularly.
8. Technology supplies
This will vary from person to person, but for me it includes a tablet, a portable speaker, my smartphone and charger, and an external battery charger.
Using my wireless hotspot I can show videos on Youtube on my tablet, as I don’t depend on having a wireless connection for all of my classes. I’m currently keeping audio files in my Dropbox until I can get a new MP3 player, and if I have a group class I use the portable speaker to be sure everyone can hear. I don’t need to charge my phone often, but I keep the charger and external battery just in case.
If I have a break of 2 hours or longer between classes and it isn’t enough time to go home, I will sometimes bring my computer with me and settle down at a quiet coffee shop to catch up on work.
9. Cloth/linen bags
Sometimes there’s a day when you just have too many books that you need to carry with you or you want to go to the supermarket on your way home. With the plastic bag ban now in effect, having a few bags with you is a good way to be prepared.
10. Class Planner/agenda
You need to stay organized, especially with traveling around the city and teaching numerous classes. I use a paper agenda, as I find that Google Calendar and other apps get confusing with sending and accepting invitations, time zone changes, and I just prefer using something that I know works for me.
Bonus item for rainy weather- an extra pair of socks!
If you haven’t experienced rainfall in Santiago, the drainage system here leaves a lot to be desired. It’s not uncommon for the rain to get up to your ankles, and if you start out your day with soaked feet it makes it quite uncomfortable. If I know it’s going to rain, I pack an extra pair of socks in a plastic bag just in case.
Is there anything else that you keep in your bookbag while commuting around the city? If so, let me know by leaving a comment.
