GTL student Smriti Pramanick teaches CS at CFP in Andorra

CFP is a very unique school; it is more of a vocational training center. Students of the five departments (computer science, business administration, nursing, beauty, and athletics) participate in very hands-on activities and truly learn by doing. It was great teaching in this environment, because it was interactive and project-based, which Smriti really enjoys!

Smriti taught alongside two other computer science teachers focusing on web development, Linux, and the final year students’ group projects (which included some MIT-inspired projects!). She also taught her own class on GitHub (what it is and how to use it).

One important aspect of this teaching is communication. She taught Catalan/Spanish speakers in English, and at first, the students were quite shy. However, they got to a point where they conversed naturally, and she even forgot that they were non-native English speakers! On her last day, they did an interview with students and the students felt that it was really good they could practice speaking in English with her, especially since English is the primary language in the computer science field. In addition, they were quite interested in hearing about her experiences at MIT and with internships she had done at Google and a startup; she felt that it was awesome to share these real-world experiences with them to get them excited about studying and having a career in technology!

Life outside of work

She loves traveling and learning about and experiencing new cultures. Her time in Andorra was amazing! As in other new countries, there were some traditions and small things that differed, but what stood out to her the most in Andorra were the people. Everyone she met were just extra sweet and the perfect host, making her feel so welcome in their homes and school – really treating her like family! She feel like she got the opportunity to explore so much of Andorra in the short time that she was there: everything from touristy places to more intimate dinners and parties (3 birthday parties! For a 9 year old, a 5 year old, and a 60 year old!). The teachers were so amicable as well. They always included her in conversations and they got along really well – they made it so easy for her to adapt!

One time she was pretty surprised was when a teacher she worked closely with brought a traditional Catalonian meal to school for her for lunch! She was so overwhelmed that he (and his family) had gone out of their way to prepare it and take such good care of her in general, and it was super yummy. It was a great bonding experience, as well, as the other teachers saw her trying to arrange it and try it for the first time: there was a lot of giggling at her attempts. ;) It is definitely a moment she will remember - a memory she will cherish!

Successes in Andorra

Smriti's experience with GTL in Andorra taught her both about being a teacher and a student. As she was given the opportunity to teach a whole class, she gained a different perspective on teaching. From spending time with the teachers at CFP, Smriti saw how much time and effort they put into teaching, especially since everything was so hands-on (not just reading from slides or a textbook), which was quite inspiring to experience (you could tell they sincerely cared!). As a student, I was reminded of the power of learning by doing, and just how important teachers are (how they can really influence your love of a subject). On a separate note, the experience of being abroad and interacting with people from other cultures is always valuable. It is great to get outside of the bubble she lived and studied in – it’s refreshing to remind oneself of the world out there! And in Andorra, it was inspiring to meet so many talented people and see so many interesting projects (many in partnership with MIT)! She would most definitely recommend such an experience to other students! If Smriti were to go back in time and change something, she would stay for longer! :)