On the last day of the volunteering project, I did an interview with Ms. Rachel and I recorded the interview, than I uploaded the interview's sound track to this link:
and here's the text of the interview:
Good morning everyone today we are going to do an interview with Ms. Rachel, Good morning Ms. Rachel, Ms Rachel: good morning Salem.
- Salem: So why don't we start with telling us a little bit about yourself?
- Ms. Rachel: My name is Rachel. I have been in the UAE and working in the future centre for 5 years as a teacher for children with special needs.
- Salem: Why did you choose to be a special needs teacher?
- Ms. Rachel: I have always been interested in helping others from a young age. When we were looking at career choices at school, I decided S< was what I was interested in, and did my degree in this, and along side this I did some volunteering in special needs schools. I loved it so much that when I moved to Abu Dhabi with my family, I was offered a job here and haven't looked back since!
- Salem: Is it a hard job or not, why?
- Ms. Rachel: There can be moments when this job is challenging, but that is what I enjoy about it! for example, it can be challenging modifying some inappropriate behaviours, but at the same time it is so rewording watching them succeed at things and learn to feel confident in themselves. It is important as a teacher to reflect on each day and see which strategies and lessons went well and which might require alternative techniques, in order to make sure we are doing our job well.
- Salem: What is the best
solution to get the students involved in the community?
- Ms. Rachel: First and foremost it is important to have an accepting open minded and welcoming community. It is also important to be able to look and focus on these students strengths and what they can do. not focus on what they can't. by having this mindset, many of communities and have a lot to offer, just like all children they too, so helping them to be as independent as possible is key. for example taking them to the shops, taking them to prayer, social gatherings with family and friends, is just as important for their social development as it is learning in the class room and I believe as important for the rest of the community as well.
- Salem: Does the volunteers help teaching the students? And how?
- Ms Rachel: Yea for sure! you've been a massive Help for me personally I think its really important when you're living in another country for your students to have access to the language of that country and being English I obviously don't know much of it, and also I wouldn't to attempt to teach it as my second language, so you've being an amazing amazing help because a lot of my students also speaks arabic as their first language and i think it is really important for them to continue this and for my students that it would be there second language it will be great for them to learn it and study it.
- Salem: What is the best
feeling you had as a teacher?
- Ms. Rachel: For me there was two things. Watching two of my students leave last year, one to complete GCSE qualifications and learn to be a diving instructor, and the other to start a job. The other thing was watching one of my students finally learn to tie his shoe laces. after months of practicing. watching him finally realise he could do it was magical. And these things that make me realise how blessed I am to have one of the best jobs in the world.
Salem: Thank you Ms. Rachel and I wish the best of luck for you!
Ms. Rachel: thank you and to you.
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