Bringing Learning to Life: Reflections from the Boiling River, Part 2
I recently had the pleasure of visiting Peru’s Boiling River with National Geographic Explorer and geothermal scientist Andrés Ruzo. There are many things I love about being an author for National Geographic Learning, but experiences like these are probably top of the list!
John Hughes (author of Life, World English, World Link, and Pathways) and Charlotte Ellis (Head of Strategic Marketing at NGL) had both visited this magical place and raved about it. For the last year, I’ve been working remotely while traveling around Latin America. When my adventures brought me to the Peruvian Amazon, I got in touch with Andrés and he jumped at the chance to take me on his next trip there.
I can honestly say that it is probably the most extraordinary place I have ever visited. It has absolutely captivated my heart. Its lethally scalding, crystal-clear waters flow from a mysterious source, over 400 miles from the nearest volcano. Andrés has devoted his life to investigating, researching, and protecting it — as well as educating others on its geological, environmental, and mystical importance.
In this blog post I share what my experiences there taught me about life, the climate crisis, and English Language Teaching. Jump ahead to read some of my ideas for bringing the Boiling River to your classroom!
National Geographic Explorers are inspiring humans
Okay—I already knew this! Having written many Explorer-inspired lessons for Voices and Impact, I am well aware of their world-changing work. Imogen Napper’s research helped ban microbeads in the UK, Qiyun Woo’s visuals educate thousands about the climate crisis, and Andrés Ruzo plays a crucial role in the preservation of the Amazon rainforest, a.k.a ‘the last lungs of the planet’.
Like other explorers, Andrés is the perfect role model for students developing their communication skills. Watching him in action was an honor. He adapted his approach to network with stakeholders, host meetings, give a talk to local children, and enthusiastically share his knowledge of science, geology, and conservation with everyone he met.
Andrés captivating local kids during his talk in Honoria, the nearest town to the Boiling River.
Andrés grew up in a Spanish speaking family. He learned English when he was around six years old. As well as Spanish and English, he can communicate well in French, Italian and Portuguese. He also speaks a little Shipibo-Conibo, the indigenous languages spoken around the Boiling River. His linguistic story and capabilities mirror other explorers’ multi-lingual skills — a perfect way to show learners what they too can achieve.
Real-world contexts are exciting and engaging
The Boiling River is an intriguing and dangerous place. When I visited, I watched a butterfly confusedly bouncing off the water, wondering why it couldn’t drink, before finally opting for safety. In one section of the river, we spotted a baby anteater, which had tragically fallen to its death. Andrés has many similar tales of woe. We also hiked with machetes (to clear the path) and litter pickers (for snakes and rubbish), took water samples of boiling water, and crossed using a wooden plank. We even woke one morning to a tarantula in our cabin.
An essential expedition kit. The little frog bag belongs to Andrés’ son.
Of course, everyone I told (especially my nephews and niece) was absolutely fascinated by my adventures here. A legendary river, a geothermal mystery, deadly animals — what’s not exciting about that? Bringing authentic contexts like these into the classroom can bring it to life and truly engage learners.
The Climate Crisis is an emergency
As we drove from Pucallpa to the Boiling River, Andrés pointed out trucks carrying felled trees. He told us that each tree was likely illegally logged. We continued on dusty gravel tracks for some time, then stopped at a wildfire burning ferociously. The air was thick with smoke, and all that remained of some patches were smoldering logs.
The still-smoldering remains of a wildfire near The Boiling River, Peru.
The Amazon rainforest is losing around two football fields of trees every minute, and that rate is likely to increase. First, (financially) valuable trees are located, logged, and sold. Then the remaining plants are burned to make way for agricultural land — cattle or crops such as soy beans or palm oil. Much of Andrés’ work involves communicating the importance of rainforest preservation.
In the rainforest, trees are essential for creating rain. Their roots trap water and hold earth together. Their leaves expel droplets of moisture, which become clouds, which later fall as rains. As more forest gets cleared, less rain falls, causing droughts and desertification. And when rain does fall, the risk of flooding is higher, as there are fewer trees to absorb the water and hold the soil together.
Our boat to Shanay Timpishka, another lodge along the Boiling River. You can see how low the waters of the River Ucayali are in this photo.
When I visited, the water in the Ucayali River (an Amazon tributary) was lower than usual. The rainy season was delayed, and the jungle was dry. Opportunists saw their chance to burn and fires spread faster and more out of control.
The night we stayed at Mayantuyacu EcoLodge, staff were sent to investigate and control the fires, which were nearing the wooden tambos (wooden cabins on stilts). A few days later, I heard from one of the guests that she’d been relocated to Pucallpa for safety. As our journey back to Lima approached, Pucallpa airport closed because the smoke became too dense for planes to land. We managed to take off the next day, but the were redirected via Iquitos and could see a lot of wildfires from our window.
Seeing the Amazon on fire was sobering. I always knew it was critical, but nothing makes it more real than actually being there.
Everyone can be a changemaker
My trip to the Boiling River made me want to do more to raise awareness of this exceptional place and the fragility of our planet. As a globally conscious writer, I have created many environmentally themed resources.
I created these materials to inform learners and support teachers to include important topics in class. I didn’t realize that they had a much wider impact until Andrés told me:
‘Every time the Boiling River appears in one of National Geographic Learning’s books, and every blog post, video, or lesson plan about it, helps raise awareness, not just with students but to officials. They see it and realize they need to preserve it.’
So, ELT Professionals, please keep teaching, writing, blogging, creating about topics of global importance. Your voice counts, and we can help our students use their voice too.
Some change-making ideas
After my trip to the Boiling River, I got an invite to visit a high school in Lima. I jumped at the chance to team teach with Evelyn Lanao at Melitón Carvajal, who I had previously met at Peru TESOL. I shared my experiences, then we watched a two-minute video about the river and students created posters.
If you want to try this in class, here’s a link to the short video. I recommend watching it twice. On the second viewing, pause it to discuss key vocabulary and invite discussion.
You could also show my Instagram Reel about the Boiling River, or show your learners some posters from the students at Melitón Carvajal for inspiration.
As a follow up:
- watch Andrés’s TED talks
- have students do some research into the importance of trees, the water cycle, the Amazon, etc.
- role play an interview between a journalist and a local resident, a scientist (Andrés), a conservationist, an illegal logger, etc.
- share their work online
- do a class project planting trees or plants
- turn the classroom floor into a “boiling river.” Have students ask and answer questions to cross to the other side safely. You could use paper or chalk drawings as stepping stones.
For more innovative project-based teaching ideas, check out the Voices Projects, which relate to United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Download a project from Voices Beginner, ‘Making local food’, here!
Further reading: Bringing Learning to Life blog series
