When Sarah Regn teaches her English as a second language students at Cape May and West Cape May elementary schools, she hopes to instill in them a sense of ownership and pride of where they live and all the beauty surrounding them.
She also tells them being bilingual is a “superpower to be cherished and be proud of.”
Regn spent the summer teaching in Peru and hiking to Machu Picchu, the lost city of the Incas, and in France and Spain, walking the 422.5-mile Camino Francés, an ancient pilgrimage route that begins in southern France and ends in a Spanish city where the cathedral is believed to house St. James’ remains.
Now, she says, she is glad to be back with her students and excited to share what she learned.
Her experiences were the result of winning a fellowship from the Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms Program. The one-year program includes time abroad so educators can bring an international perspective to their schools through targeted training, experience abroad and global collaboration.
“I really wanted to build up my network of teachers who do similar work so I could better support my students and their families,” she said. “As we know, Cape May is very small, and this gave me a chance to broaden my network and get some new ideas to use in my classroom.
“This year I want to continue to uplift my students’ language and culture by continuing to build a strong sense of community, create lessons that highlight identity, and give my students more confidence in their linguistic abilities. I hope my classroom continues to be a safe harbor for my students to constantly return to and a place where they are motivated to learn more about themselves and the world.”
Because most of her ESL students are from Spanish-speaking countries, she wanted to visit schools with similar backgrounds to see how their teachers use resources to teach.
“I was inspired by the teachers in Peru,” Regn said. She partnered with a Peruvian high school teacher in Moyobamba, the oldest town in Peru’s Amazon Basin; it was established as an Inca outpost in the late 15th century.
“In Peru, students don’t learn English until secondary school, so their English skills were similar to those of my students,” she said. “Being in the Amazon, they are geographically isolated, and the teachers don’t have a lot of resources and support. But the kids are constantly learning, using local supplies for projects. They want to learn to speak English with videos, as well, so they can listen to how words are pronounced and get a better sense of how it’s spoken in conversations.”
To help the Peruvian students learn English, Regn had her Cape May students design postcards and record their voices as they shared favorite places and things to do in the area. The postcards and recordings were shared with the Peruvian students, who attend an international baccalaureate boarding school for low socioeconomic students.
“More than 1,000 students apply to these schools, but only 100 get in,” she said. There is one such school in each of the 25 regions in Peru.
“The idea is to break the cycle of poverty,” Regn said. “The schools are free for the students, and the standards and curriculum are very tough.”
She was partnered with a Peruvian teacher, and they plan to continue sharing ideas and projects across the miles.
“We can travel the world from our classrooms,” she said. “It was an honor to learn in the Peruvian schools and bring that experience back to Cape May. I want my students to feel ownership and pride about where they live and share that with others. We live in a beautiful area, and it’s going to be fun bringing what I learned into the classroom.”
While in Peru, Regn hiked six days to Machu Picchu, often referred to as the Lost City of the Incas. Machu Picchu is an iconic symbol of the Inca civilization, featuring dry-stone walls. She was amazed by the biodiversity she saw along the way, since at 7,970 feet elevation she passed through different vegetation and climates along the way.
“I live in North Wildwood, so you know how flat it is here,” she said. “My training for elevation was strapping on weights and walking up and down the boardwalk steps.”
Her hike in Peru covered over 14 miles a day with her backpack, clothing and supplies. “One day I was sleeping in my insulated sleeping bag, wearing a puffer jacket and hat,” she said. “The next day we were sweating in the jungle. Peru has so many different vegetation and climates, and its people are really a melting pot due to the slavery and colonization that happened over the years.
“As I was walking up the trail to Machu Picchu, I developed a real appreciation for what they accomplished. As I am back in the classroom, it will be an honor to teach my students about Peru, its history and culture.”
Calling herself an “opportunistic person,” Regn had also decided to walk the Camino Francés, also known as the French Way and the most famous of the Camino de Santiago routes. People walk the Camino de Santiago for spiritual, physical and personal reasons, including seeking a deeper connection to faith, finding personal meaning and self-discovery, overcoming life’s challenges and fostering friendships with other walkers.
The experience, Regn said, offers a unique opportunity for reflection, personal growth and a profound sense of accomplishment in a supportive, communal atmosphere.
She said she wanted to “grow into herself” when she turned 30 on July 15.
In her journey, which took 32 days, “you learn very quickly what’s important and what you need in life,” she said. “While I am Catholic and have religious ties for wanting to walk the Camino, I really wanted to experience a humble lifestyle, connecting with myself inside and out to start a new decade of my life.”
While hiking, Regn said the nature along the trail was inspiring, and the pain from walking so far each day through so many different areas kept her in the present.
“Every day I had a small goal for that day,” she said, “and then at the end of the day, you joined a melting pot of people from all over to share a meal, or share a smile. We may not have spoken the same language, but a smile says so much. I wanted to take care of my mind, body and spirit, and as you walk the Camino, one of the things I thought about was how our lives are so wrapped up in material things that really aren’t that important.
“After having experienced both the Camino and Machu Picchu, I feel inspired and ignited to remind my students that the world is at their fingertips. Sometimes it is easy to think that Cape May County is as far as our arms can reach, but these experiences and this journey served as a reminder to myself and students that connection is universal. Global connection can happen anywhere at any time. It does not require an abundance of resources or technology.
“Global connection simply needs us to show up with a willingness and urgency to give respect, empathy, a listening ear, an open heart and perspective-filled eyes to others,” Regn said.
“As a person and teacher, I was reminded that kindness speaks in all languages, and linguistic barriers can be overcome when all parties involved have the courage to intentionally listen first, when empathy is at the forefront of the conversation, and when there is a mutual sense of respect for multiple perspectives and ways of living.”
Contact the reporter, Karen Knight, at kknight@cmcherald.com.
