Meet Ditta Magar, a teacher/coordinator from Kathmandu, Nepal, participating in the 2017 TIEs program.

Here’s a little about her:

How long have you been teaching?

I’ve been teaching for 9 years- the first 2 years were in kindergarten, then after that I became a coordinator for classes nursery to 2^nd

Why do you teach?

I love children. It makes me happy to spend time with them. Also, I am studying child development at the Masters level.

What do you like to do when you’re not teaching?

I love watching dramas, and I am involved in acting. I am also a Sunday School coordinator.

Where have you traveled before? Is travel important to you?

I have traveled to Pokhara in Nepal, and India outside of Nepal. Travel can refresh us and it gives us entertainment.

What are you strengths as a teacher?

I give children a loving and caring environment. This is my first priority for the students. After that, I can teach them, like a friend. I can give them motivation and counseling.

What do you believe is the biggest benefit of the TIEs program?

We can know different countries’ teachers- their culture and their teaching style. We can share our own feelings with them. At first, they are new faces for us, but later, we are like a family.

What do you hope to learn from your partner teacher?

I want to learn to how to make low-cost materials. And I want to know my partner’s teaching style.

If you were an animal, what would you be? Why?

A fish. If I have any trouble in my mind, I love to see aquariums. The fish make me happy. So if I were a fish, I think I could make other people happy.

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Meet Devi Karki, a dance/extracurricular activities teacher from Kathmandu, Nepal. She’s participating in TIEs’ 2017 summer cultural exchange program.

Let’s learn a little about her!

How long have you been teaching? What grades/subjects?

I’ve been teaching for 14 years. I’m a dance teacher, my specialties are Nepali folk cultural dance and classical dance. I also do ECA (Extra-Curricular Activities), like games, literature, and organizing school programs. In the past, I have taught English, Math, Computers, and Science.

Why do you teach?

I have wanted to be a teacher since my childhood. I want to educate Nepali children. Other countries think that Nepal is not well-educated or developed, and I want to develop my country through education.

What do you like to do when you’re not teaching?

I like to do interior design, like rooms and gardens. I go on Youtube to research arts and crafts and try to get knowledge from that and make my own creations. I read books and listen to music. I like to visit new places.

Where have you traveled before? Is travel important to you?

I have traveled all over Nepal, but I’m only a domestic tourist, not international. In the future, I plan to visit Spain, America, Australia, and India. In true travel, we can get knowledge from different environments, places, people, and cultures.

What are your strengths as a teacher?

My strength is that I can understand my students. They can be friendly with me and share everything. I try to help them with their problems.

What do you believe is the biggest benefit of the TIEs program?

We can exchange our teaching styles. Co-teaching is positive because we get different knowledge and we can integrate that knowledge into our school.

What do you hope to learn in from your partner teacher?

I want to learn about how to make a plan for Extra-Curricular Activities (ECA). In Nepal, we have lesson plans for academic subjects, but not ECA. I think academic subjects can be integrated into ECA, and that will make students understand these subjects better.

If you were an animal, what would you be? Why?

I would like to be a bird. Birds can fly all over and I could be a positive messenger for the whole world. The positive message would be that we are all people and we should respect our elders because they are our history and we can learn different things from them.

Stay tuned to the TIEs blog for more profiles of our Nepali and American teacher participants!

Meet Amy Okimoto, a 3^rd grade teacher from the USA! This summer, she’s partnering with Nepali teachers and administrators to exchange ideas about education.

How long have you been teaching?

I’ve been teaching for 21 years, including grades K-8, and gifted & talented. I currently teach 3^rd grade in Aurora, Colorado.

Why do you teach?

I teach to positively impact the future and build children up by helping them achieve their potential.

What do you like to do when you’re not teaching?

Travel, cook, exercise, cheer on the Broncos, and spend time with friends and family.

Where have you traveled? Is travel important to you?

Japan, Korea, China, Hong Kong, Mexico, Canada, the Philippines. Travel not only helps you learn about other people and places, but also provides the opportunity to learn about oneself.

What are your strengths as a teacher?

I believe my strength is my ability to nurture students’ spirit and innate curiosity.

What do you believe is the biggest benefit of the TIEs program?

The collaborative effort between the US and Nepali teachers allows the Bhassara students to benefit from multiple perspectives and a wide range of expertise.

What do you hope to learn from your partner teachers?

I hope to learn more about the Pariyatti class, the moral education that is taught as part of the curriculum here at Bhassara. They have 5 “Universal Goodnesses” that they emphasize, and I want to learn about how these influence students’ relationships with each other and with their teachers.

If you were an animal, what would you be?

I’d be a dolphin. They’re free, intelligent, connected to others, and I love the ocean!

Stay tuned to the TIEs blog for more profiles of our Nepali and American teacher participants!

Meet Anil, one of the teachers participating in TIEs’ 2017 summer program from Lalitpur, Nepal. Let’s learn a little about him.

How long have you been teaching?

I’ve been teaching for 6 years, Science and Mathematics in grades 6-10.

Why do you teach?

To share knowledge, and help students develop positive attitudes towards society.

What do you like to do when you’re not teaching?

Meditation, listening to soft music, reading books related to spiritual and scientific knowledge.

Where have you travelled before? Is travel important to you?

I have travelled to India. Travel is important to broaden our minds and develop our attitudes.

What are you strengths as a teacher?

I am friendly with students and counsel them. I like to make the subject matter clear.

What do you believe is the biggest benefit of the TIEs program?

We can learn different methods of teaching, such as methods of co-teaching. And we can share ideas with teachers of different cultures.

What do you hope to learn in from your partner teacher?

My goal is to learn about classroom management and time management, and using new methods to involve the children.

If you were an animal, what would you be?

Elephant, it’s calm and big.

Stay tuned to the TIEs blog for more profiles of our Nepali and American teacher participants!