Hi everyone! My name is Janna Lelis and I’m a second-year Political Science and Economics student at Florida State University.
This is me!
This summer, I will be volunteering as an English Teaching Assistant with Seeds of Hope Peru, a local nongovernmental organization (NGO) in Huaraz, Peru, which provides educational support and resources to students from elementary-age to adult-age who come from rural, impoverished communities. I’ll be working with a local teacher to teach English to secondary students at a public school, but I’ll also have the chance to teach my own lessons at the English school held by Seeds of Hope. I’ve been working on earning my Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) Certificate at Florida State, and I can’t wait to use the skills I’ve acquired this past year to a classroom.
Growing up as a military kid and being surrounded by different cultures has been one of the biggest influences on my life. I’m from Jacksonville, Florida, but I lived on a military base in Japan for five years. My interest in learning languages, traveling, and immersing myself in foreign cultures has translated into my passion for education, cultural exchange, and human rights and migration.
Seeds of Hope’s background and mission stood out to me because it aims to break the cycle of poverty through education and personal support. The students of Seeds of Hope come from the poorest families in Huaraz. Seeds of Hope provides services like academic tutoring, workshops on hygiene and nutrition, and vocational training for higher education or careers. I’m looking forward to serving the community with the skills I’ve acquired while improving my skills as an ESL teacher and learning more about global citizenship.
My Capstone project investigates how participation in NGO-based English programs shape students’ investment in learning and teaching English as a form of social, cultural, and economic capital. Essentially, I will be looking at the roles that local NGOs play in their students’ motivation in learning English and how it has impacted their personal and professional trajectories. Alongside Global Scholars, I’m also excited to also be part of the Tyler Fellowship.
Current second language acquisition research and literature is concentrated in WEIRD (Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, Democratic) countries, leaving the experiences of language learners in the Global South underrepresented. Therefore, this project focuses on the stories of the students of Seeds of Hope and how they reflect on their experiences with the organization. I am curious on how local community organizations and volunteerism can make education more accessible.
This is my first time staying in a completely foreign country by myself for a long period of time. It is also my first time in Peru, so the cultural and language barrier will definitely be a new experience for me. For others, it might be a bit intimidating, but I find it really exciting. I usually have a packed schedule of activities during my solo travels, but I’m looking forward to enjoying my time in Peru slowly. I want to immerse myself in the local culture and get to know the community and their traditions, while also incorporating my usual routines from back home in Florida. Alongside, I’m excited to meet the Seeds of Hope team, the students, and other volunteers. I’ll also be taking Spanish classes, and it’s my goal to improve my Spanish by a lot by the end of the summer! Lastly, the Ancash region is full of so many beautiful natural wonders that I hope to explore during my time in Huaraz.
This upcoming school year wraps up my time at FSU. After I graduate, I hope to continue teaching English abroad and go to graduate school for education policy. I’m beyond excited to be part of this year’s Global Scholars cohort and see what this summer holds for me.
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