TLG Training

Once the 109 volunteers (TLG’s largest group to date!) had arrived, training for group 46 began in full. We had a week chock full of Georgian language lessons, intercultural training, and teaching methodology classes. There were also a bunch of practical/logistical sessions about our phones, our bank accounts, our health insurance, etc.

All in all, I found the training to be quite helpful, even as a seasoned traveler. Georgian Language class was extremely important, as the average Georgian does not know any English beyond “Hello!” which you will hear a lot as you walk down the street. Intercultural training, though it mostly seemed like common sense, has been useful as I navigate my first experience living with a host family. And last but not least, teaching strategies from the methodology lectures were quite helpful for a first time teacher like myself.

There were a lot of funny moments during training sessions where Mitch and I looked at one another and said, “that is so totally going in the blog,” but unfortunately I forget most of them now. Damn procrastination.

I can remember 3 things worth sharing:

1.     Training coordinator – Tamara Chanturishvili

Our training program was organized by a very nice but sometimes stern woman named Tamara. As it turns out, Tamara was apparently the winner of a past season of Georgian “Survivor”! I think this is incredibly badass and cool.

2.     Intercultural training – the stereotype game

During our first intercultural session, we played the best game ever. I call it “the stereotype game”. We wrote where we were from on a piece of paper, then taped said paper to our backs. We then walked around and wrote stereotypes about people from those various places. Excellent.

I was a bit surprised how little people seemed to know about North Carolina (if they even knew of it at all). I expected a lot of comments about rednecks, slavery, and southern food, but there were only a few. Someone wrote “Duke,” which nearly ruined the game for me despite its accuracy.

3.     Intercultural training – “We have a saying in Georgia…”

While talking about gender roles in Georgia (one of the few things that I take issue with in this country, btw) our adorable and awesome trainer, Keti, said, “We have this saying in Georgia. The man may be the head of the family, but the woman is the neck.”

If you’re like me, you’re giddy right now about hearing a direct quote from the movie “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” being used in real life.