Rudy never wanted to be a teacher.
โI always hated people telling me that I have the gift to be a teacher,โ Rudy laughed. โI felt like everyone was trying to make the decision for me…and Iโd always respond โNo! Thatโs not what I want to do!โ
So when Rudy was challenged to attend an adult education course held at the Ukarumpa Training Centre, she balked. โI donโt want to go,โ she protested. Phil, the coordinator, disagreed. โI think Iโve got something for you to do, so I want you to go.โ
Despite Rudyโs hesitation, the course kept her attention. โInformation is the best thing!โ Rudy grinned, spreading her hands wide. โI just love learning something new!โ
Afterwards, Phil asked Rudy to teach a few lessons at the Translators Training Course (TTC), which equips national translators in translation, exegesis, and linguistics. At first, Rudy was horrified. โI felt really stupid and wondered how I was going to teach these things. Was I really going to ask them to sing the alphabet song? I thought, itโs like going back to grade 1! No way! This is embarrassing!โ
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Assuring herself that if it went badly, she wouldnโt ever teach again, Rudy bravely walked to the front of the class and began leading the discussion. To her surprise, the silly alphabet song actually helped her students engage with the material!
Now, Rudy is an integral member of the instructor team for TTC. โThat song helped me to see that there are a lot of people who arenโt as fortunate as me, who may not have gone to the schools that Iโve been in or…[had] the resources that Iโve had or the teachers that Iโve had… Knowing that has given me the joy to know I can help these people. My people.โ She smiled. โItโs what helps me to keep coming back. Of course there are challenges….but at the end of the day, itโs worth it.โ
Her eyes sparkledโฆ And yes, I love teaching people!
