Antigua, West Indies

“Working with Dr. Sonia was the first time I worked with a coach who was outside of our school environment. Initially I was a bit apprehensive about using the arts because it was outside of what I typically do with my students, and I didn’t think that I was very creative. However, after seeing the way my students responded, and noticing their motivation to participate in the drawing and drama activities, it inspired me to become more creative in my teaching of English.

During the planning phase, I enjoyed being challenged by someone outside of Antigua who brought a different perspective to the curriculum. At first my students were like “Who is this lady?” and things like changing the arrangement of the classroom and asking them to participate in drama games pushed them outside of their comfort zone, but they quickly became accustomed to her, and as they got used to her approach they enjoyed it. Though my students are different from those in North America, Dr. Sonia was able to adjust her style and approach for my students and that helped me realize the importance of adapting my lessons to be more relevant. After the residency, my students asked if we were going to continue to use drama and art as part of our lessons, and I believe that more teacher on the island should have this type of learning opportunity.” — Andrea Brann, English Teacher