Teaching English and Art

Since 2012, Dieter Storr is teaching English and art in China and Mexico.

• Teaching in Mexico

  English

  The San Miguel School of English is a non-profit, all-volunteer organization incorporated under Mexican law. The mission of the school is to teach beginning, intermediate, and advanced levels of English to Mexican residents of San Miguel de Allende (SMA), 16 years of age and older, to improve their chances of employment and widen their cultural perspective. Classes take place in the public grade school (primary or elementary school), Las Heroinas Insurgentes, Calle Recreo 46.

  In September 2014, I taught a sixth-level class where ESL/EFL students learn how to discuss based on a wide variety of engaging topics and unique interactive exercises. I picked the story "The Gift of the Magi" and after the students read the story in class we discussed questions about love, sacrifice, wealth as well as women and femininity.

  I tought also the second-level and first-level class twice a week until the end of February 2015.

  Art

  I started in 2013 helping the Children's Art Foundation supporting literacy through art. I helped the children in Palo Colorado together with other art teachers to improve their literacy through painting and writing short stories about their artwork. The children were very receptive to learning and excelled in their performance. They are truly making great progress both in the quality of their art work as well as advancing academically.

  The Children's Art Foundation - http://artedelosninos.org/ - started in 2014 in four schools its art and literary program:

  • Miguel Hidalgo - Colonia Ejido de Tirado - 470 students
  • Ignacio Allende - Colonia Guadalupe - 500 students
  • Palo Colorado - 365 students
  • Nueva Senda - Colonia San Luis Rey - Bella Vista #8 250 students

  The Foundation will expand its success in 2015 and support the following new schools:

  • Leona Viscario - Colonia Palmita de Landeta - 300 students
  • Racho Viejo - the poorest rancho in the vicinity of San Miguel - 500 students

  Based on the excellent mural project in Palo Colorado and its success, four other schools started in November 2014 its mural project and will be finished by the end of December 2014.

  I started in November 2014 helping artists and students on the next mural project at the school Ignacio Allende in Colonia Guadalupe. Hannah Jarmain, the founder and director of the the Art Foundation, introduced us to the school officials and to the students of Thursday's art class. Supported by their art teacher Seņora Samantha Sanchez, the students draw animals, flowers and other creatures for the mural on paper.

  A well known local artist, Toller Cranston (yes, the former Canadian ice skater), sketched figures with ink on a white wall. The kids couldn't wait and started supported by their art teacher coloring it out. They also sketched their own drawings onto the wall.

  Suddently and unexpected, the artist passed away on January 23, 2015. He couldn's see the little artist's results.

  I created from pictures and videos a little video clip showing the work of the Children's Art Foundation of San Miguel de Allende and put it on Youtube.

  Click here to watch

• Teaching in China

  English combined with art

  Together with my wife, we moved for three months to Suzhou. It is a major city located in the southeast of Jiangsu Province in Eastern China, located adjacent to Shanghai Municipality. The city is situated on the lower reaches of the Yangtze River and on the shores of Taihu Lake and is a part of the Yangtze River Delta region. Suzhou is also called the city of gardens, oriental venice,or the land of silk.

  We tought 16 classes per week with approximately 46 students per class. More information is available on my travel blogs:

  Click here to watch 2012

  Click here to watch 2013