I jolted awake today
wondering where I needed to run. The answer was “no where." Shifting realities I
realized that today is a calm responsibility-free Sunday in Mexico City.
Yesterday I ended my eleventh year of running a 35-Day Latin American Critical Pedagogical Group Crucible Educational Experiment and/or potential best reality show ever idea (contact me to make Hollywood offer$). Ok, that was wordy, but the
program is about a lot of things. I wish I had written down notes about all the
things I learned each day or research ideas that the experiences evoked for me.
I loved this year and I learned a lot from the group of participants, faculty
and the communities in Mexico with whom we had an opportunity to connect. This
blog post is my attempt to capture, incompletely, some of the thoughts zipping
through my head.
I once wrote an article
about the Mexico program, but honestly I would write it completely different
today (That was true before it was published because it didn’t come out for
three years after being accepted). You can check out my thinking about
immersion education at that time here. My hopes for the program remain the same though:
There are many ideas and theories that guide how I
construct an immersion program, but here are three of the main overlapping ones:
- Yalom, Corey & Corey and Tuckman’s theories about group therapy and process
- Paulo Freire’s ideas on critical pedagogy
- David Schnarch’s Crucible Approach to growth and intimacy
I taught group
therapy during the first few years I brought groups of students to Mexico and
could not help notice that every group therapy concept I was teaching in the
class was simultaneously occurring in the immersion group. I don’t think it
would be an effective marketing approach to frame the program as an intensive encounter group (a group of
people who meet to gain psychological benefit through close contact with one
another), but perhaps I should consider it. In my defense, I do say that the
program is focused on self-of-the-therapist work and that we are going to look
at how nationality and class and other factors are important for clinicians in
training (and faculty) to consider.
Every year I
think about group theory during immersion program, but three main concepts
stood out to me this year:
- The Stages of group development
- The Therapeutic Factors of Group Therapy
- The Dimensions of the Leader’s Role
A colleague of mine from Puerto Rico and I presented a few years ago at the Forum on Education Abroad conference about how the stages of group happen in immersion education. Here are a few of our ideas:
Normally it is a challenge to get people engaged in forming a group online, but this year's group jumped right in and were really vulnerable and open in their online introductions.
I mention crucibles in the above slide. So, briefly, let me explain the concept as I understand it. For a number of years I also taught sex therapy during the
summer immersion program which likely led to me linking ideas from David
Schnarch’s Crucible approach with immersion education. A main concept
from his approach is the idea’s of crucibles. There are two main definitions of
a crucible:
¨
A severe test or hard trial.
¨
A highly nonreactive vessel in which a
transfiguring reaction takes place.
Both definitions fit for immersion programs. Cultural learning and being part of a group is hard difficult work. The whole 5 weeks is a crucible. Characteristics of a crucible approach are:
¨
An emphasis on anxiety tolerance rather than anxiety
avoidance.
¨
Focus on potential rather than dysfunction.
¨ Most positive things require anxiety.
¨
Everyone has a differentiation edge, a next
step, pushing the envelope toward greater emotional/spiritual/physical
connection.
During all immersion programs I am involved in, there are some planned crucible experiences and moments. In the Mexico program there are home stays, the temazcal, the two-day retreat where we sit in a circle and intensely process, exposure to poverty (which honestly I think is more difficult for people than facing other cultural differences). In Cambodia the crucible might be linked with visiting the killing fields. In India, it has been a visit to the gypsy community where children are living literally in landfill.
There are also natural crucibles that occur such as:
- Just being in a new culture and outside your nation of origin
- Independent people being part of a group
- Food differences
- Language differences
- Health (Damn you Montezuma!!!)
The storming stage is vital. I would feel I had failed if we didn't get there because it is when really important growth happens and we move beyond superficial issues. I also think it is when we do the most work on differentiation:
Differentiation:
The ability to differentiate and
integrate two fundamental drives.
1. Attachment.
2. Self-Regulation
This is also the tricky part for me. How do I help competent adult people be part of a group AND respect their autonomy and individual needs. Us figuring that out really is the definition of differentiation---somewhere between attachment and self regulation.
Luckily I don't have to handle that alone because the norming stage naturally happens and helps with that in immersion education.
While I sometimes need to intervene, the group members socialize each other. This year I really appreciated the kindness the group gave each other. They challenged each other though in really powerful ways.
Boy (or girl?) did our group this year perform! They were amazing.
And the stage me and our group are still in:
Platt, J.J. &
Jiménez, M. (2013) Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing, Adjourning:Ideas from Group Psychotherapy for
Immersion Education. A paper presented at the 9th Annual Forum on
Education Abroad Conference, Chicago, U.S.A.
The group said their goodbyes yesterday and now they are processing their re-entry shock on Facebook (and I am sure in other ways). I think the return home is an under-focused on part of immersion programs. It normally gets framed as a problem, but it is also an opportunity. I think a lot of growth happens when people see their own nation with fresh eyes. What usually happens is there that there is a period of time where they see the US critically (in the negative sense). I hope that is a stage for people and that in the end they find a balanced view (of the US and any nation). My friend Tracey I call that balanced view "Critical Patriotism" and we define "critical patriotism as the ability to honestly and fairly reflect and assess the values, history, culture, and traditions of one’s country. Inherent in this process is the ability to consider the nation’s virtues and vices in a balanced way" (Platt & Lazloffy, 2013, p. 243)
Platt, J. J.,
& Laszloffy, T. A. (2013). Critical patriotism: Incorporating nationality
into MFT education and training. Journal
of Marital and Family Therapy, 39, 441–456. doi: 10.1111/j.1752-0606.2012.00325.x.
Please do not name names. It is also completely natural in every group for people to express their anxiety in different ways. I notice the below happening throughout all immersion programs but it is particularly evident during focused group dialogues (like our two-day retreat). Really, we are all human and we have our preferred "attempted solutions" for when we are under stress and they often are one of the problematic behaviors that Corey and Corey identify as occurring in groups.
Group Theory and Crucibles fit with my interpretation of Freire's critical pedagogy. I have lots to say about that topic, but I am running out of writing steam. Immersion education also fits well in general with critical education. I think of everything we do or see as being a Freirean prompt for dialogues. ‘Unlike traditional visual aids, the function of pictures or photos in a participatory classroom is to uncover themes or to evoke powerful responses’’ (Auerbach, 1999, p. 36). Photos are great, but Mexico and the immersion program are full of other kinds of visual aids. For example, the US embassy surrounded by barriers, Diego Rivera's murals, my silly t-shirts (no really, WHO WOULD JESUS DEPORT?), graffiti, the home stay homes, the performances on the metro, etc. Really everything in Mexico.
Other thoughts, questions and struggles I will continue to think about for a while...
Transference is so powerful and
so ubiquitous that the dictum “the leader shall have no favorites” seems to be
essential for the stability of every working group. (Yalom, 1995
pg. 195)
How should or can I, as an
immersion group leader, avoid having or appearing to have favorites?
(An interesting aspect of this is
that sometimes I am working hard to connect with a participant that I find
challenging and as a result others have perceived me as favoring that person).
The 2015 Visiting Immersion Faculty
“In her book Teaching to Transgress, bell hooks (1994)
suggests that faculty often maintain the status quo of oppressive societal
structures by remaining hidden in the role of ‘‘all knowing silent
interrogators,’’ whereas ‘‘when education is the practice of freedom, students
are not the only ones who are asked to share, to confess’’ (p. 21).
Paulo Freire stated in his book Pedagogy of Freedom that
“I cannot be a teacher without exposing who I am.”
Immersion education clearly and inevitable pushes the
boundaries of faculty and student relationships. Mainly because the amount and
type of contact is significantly different than it is when you just meet each
other once a week in a classroom. How human can faculty be while still being
professional? What level of access to me is useful? What boundaries are healthy
for me to maintain? This year I put the students with local families blocks from my home, introduced them to family and friends and groups I consider to be from my personal life. They are always curious about me. How much access should I give?
- When is "exposing who I am" NOT helpful?
- Twelve years ago I remember getting feedback from students I taught in Irvine that it was odd to see me without a tie.
- I remember a more senior faculty member telling me the immersion students were calling me “Jason.”
- I ran the immersion program in Mexico for several years without other faculty and we did a temezcal each year. When I brought faculty for the first time several of them did not want to do it because it they weren’t comfortable taking their shirt off in front of students. Afterward I was sad that something I had only thought of as beautiful and meaningful as possibly being considered something else.
- I’ve brought my nephew, who I love so much and to whom I am very close, to the past two immersion programs. I notice the immersion folks observing this family relationship. Is that okay to open up to them?
- Is sharing a not so private outhouse and sleeping on the same cement school house floor inappropriate? Participants see me sleeping on the bus, we camp out together. I’ve invited them into my home sometimes for events.
- What about when I am working with participants whose challenge is respecting appropriate boundaries?
- What should be done when people are confusing the educational intimacy with romantic intimacy?
- Is it more risky for a single male to be engaged in critical approaches to education than it is for married men or women?
Other general questions:
Should people be more informed about the "group therapy" aspect of immersion education. It happens in any group, but because I come from a mental health perspective I happen to recognize it and use it intentionally.
How do I know when complaining is about something valid that should be fixed versus an expression of natural anxiety tied to growth.
What would be helpful for me to tell visiting faculty who have never been exposed in the way immersion education exposes them?
Skip to 3:50 in this video and listen to Critical Educators Peter Mclaren & Nathalia Jaramillo. Does wanting to draw from Paulo Freire's work lead to job insecurity?
I have two groups of students during the summer. The visiting immersion students and local students who are here in Mexico for two years. What are the different needs of these two groups and how do I better meet them? I think the local students get the short end of the stick in some ways. The immersion students pay a program fee that allows me to set up tons of activities and speakers and experiences. I have no budget to provide the same level of activities for local students. There is so much value in mixing the two groups though. They have a lot to learn from each other. It is also an incredible networking opportunity for both groups. Every year there is some tension between the groups. How could I change that?
What did people learn about El Salvador, Venezuela, Argentina and Brazil this summer? Is just connecting people across national lines enough.
I realized more than ever before this year how many unintentional people are impacted by the program. The cleaning ladies. The home stay families. The Spanish instructors. The other students studying on the campus. The librarian. The school guards. Really there are hundreds of people who come in contact with our group. Not sure what the question is but I am thinking about the implications that might exist.
I don't always know when to trust the process or to force the process? Sometimes I think people will automatically connect the dots between different things and their clinical work, but I am not 100% sure.
I think the best learning experiences during the summer happen outside of official class rooms. There are some really mind blowing powerful and life changing experiences. Should I be trying to capture and quantify these spiritual, emotional, relational and important thing into some form that would be valued by the university system that are not aware of what happens in this program?
The program is fairly challenging physically. How can I better meet the needs of people with mobility issues?
Not that I always succeed, but I want to be "a highly nonreactive vessel that allows a transfiguring reaction takes place" for participants. Mostly I feel genuine love and compassion for people. On the rare occasion when I feel someone is being rude, I mostly can understand that it is coming from fear or discomfort and is a sign that they are in a process of growth. How would I know when it isn't though? Like a supervisor has both the role of a mentor and sometimes a gatekeeper, when do I know when it is time to shift roles and approaches?
Am I responsible for each person's unique dietary restrictions? I have some students/faculty who have dietary restrictions and I never hear about them because they just handle them. I have others who are frustrated with me for not accommodating them sufficiently.
Food in general is a very central part of immersion experiences. I use to militantly try to get people to not eat at any US establishments. I had a colleague who believed that people need their "McDonald" moments sometimes and that it helps them regroup. This year I didn't really challenge anyone to not go to US establishments. They are every where and it is almost impossible. Is there some middle path that I should take? I go to US establishments now too. I think the reason I stopped being militant it was kind of judgmental and led to competitiveness between folks about who is immersion the most. Not helpful.
Skip to 3:50 in this video and listen to Critical Educators Peter Mclaren & Nathalia Jaramillo. Does wanting to draw from Paulo Freire's work lead to job insecurity?
I have two groups of students during the summer. The visiting immersion students and local students who are here in Mexico for two years. What are the different needs of these two groups and how do I better meet them? I think the local students get the short end of the stick in some ways. The immersion students pay a program fee that allows me to set up tons of activities and speakers and experiences. I have no budget to provide the same level of activities for local students. There is so much value in mixing the two groups though. They have a lot to learn from each other. It is also an incredible networking opportunity for both groups. Every year there is some tension between the groups. How could I change that?
What did people learn about El Salvador, Venezuela, Argentina and Brazil this summer? Is just connecting people across national lines enough.
I realized more than ever before this year how many unintentional people are impacted by the program. The cleaning ladies. The home stay families. The Spanish instructors. The other students studying on the campus. The librarian. The school guards. Really there are hundreds of people who come in contact with our group. Not sure what the question is but I am thinking about the implications that might exist.
I don't always know when to trust the process or to force the process? Sometimes I think people will automatically connect the dots between different things and their clinical work, but I am not 100% sure.
I think the best learning experiences during the summer happen outside of official class rooms. There are some really mind blowing powerful and life changing experiences. Should I be trying to capture and quantify these spiritual, emotional, relational and important thing into some form that would be valued by the university system that are not aware of what happens in this program?
The program is fairly challenging physically. How can I better meet the needs of people with mobility issues?
Not that I always succeed, but I want to be "a highly nonreactive vessel that allows a transfiguring reaction takes place" for participants. Mostly I feel genuine love and compassion for people. On the rare occasion when I feel someone is being rude, I mostly can understand that it is coming from fear or discomfort and is a sign that they are in a process of growth. How would I know when it isn't though? Like a supervisor has both the role of a mentor and sometimes a gatekeeper, when do I know when it is time to shift roles and approaches?
Am I responsible for each person's unique dietary restrictions? I have some students/faculty who have dietary restrictions and I never hear about them because they just handle them. I have others who are frustrated with me for not accommodating them sufficiently.
Food in general is a very central part of immersion experiences. I use to militantly try to get people to not eat at any US establishments. I had a colleague who believed that people need their "McDonald" moments sometimes and that it helps them regroup. This year I didn't really challenge anyone to not go to US establishments. They are every where and it is almost impossible. Is there some middle path that I should take? I go to US establishments now too. I think the reason I stopped being militant it was kind of judgmental and led to competitiveness between folks about who is immersion the most. Not helpful.
I think if I told a word by word account of every detail that has ever happened in past immersion programs to someone who is going to participate, it would still not be enough details. I also think each immersion program and each person in an immersion program is unique. I want to say "just let go and come experience it" when asked for details. That isn't helpful though. How much detail can I give and how much should I give?
And unrelated to everything here is my top ten favorite parts of the
2015 Mexico Immersion program
1) Doing theater of the Oppressed with the group
2) Our powerful retreat in Malinalco
3) Hearing everyone's poems based on what they learned in the program. They are all so talented.
4) The visit to a Mexican prison where they are using theater to give voice to their experiences
5) The opportunity to eat in a local home in Oaxaca
6) Sleeping in a School in Oaxaca and the opportunity to wonder about "the meaning of how each of us handled the experience!" If I could have one last group process it would be about that experience. It brought out something for everyone and it was so interesting!
7) The unexpected role that music had in this year's program
8) Having faculty with similar educational world views. It meant so much to me. I realize I am often a little isolated from an academic community. It was also so intellectually stimulating to have faculty and staff from Argentina, El Salvador, Mexico, US, Brazil, Venezuela and other places all together in an intense way.
9) The camp with 175 children. They are our best professors in the program
10) Having my favorite Intern (and occasional guest blogger) back in Mexico. My favorite Afghan-Colombian in the whole wide world. My nephew Shareef
A runner up was this cow that was happy to see me and just wanted to be friends
Okay. I have loved my quiet day to introvert and think. I would love to know any thoughts or reactions to my sharing my evolving thoughts about immersion education. Thank you to everyone who has participated in my education experiment!
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