This week the Natasha and Clare are observing and participating in English class so that next week they can start teaching! It will be sad to leave our students, but we’re glad they will have teachers with new energy and fresh ideas to finish out the year!
Paz,
Kelsey
Today we jumped into the second day of English class, learning the alphabet, greetings and useful classroom phrases. Here the students are doing skits to practice the phrases they learned. The class is abnormally small for the first week, but we’re hoping to have some more students sign up within the next few weeks. Even though it can be a little uncomfortable until we start to get to know the students, it’s exciting to see new faces that are excited and committed to learn as much as they can in the next 10 months of class.
Saludos!
Kelsey
Last week we had 13 students complete their 5th and last level of English class offered here at the Center. We admire our students who have stuck out the 10 months, especially as adults who have so many other things going on in their lives including families, work, school, health issues and pregnancies. Yet despite all of that, we had students who had a desire to learn and dedicated time to make English a priority. And for that reason we’re very thankful for each of our students who we’ve gotten to know both as students and friends this past year.
It’s bittersweet to say goodbye, but we hope that they continue studying and finding ways to use their English in the future. In the meantime Erika and I are already preparing for class next year, trying to evaluate our first full year of teaching and continually look for ways to improve and grow.
Hope you all have a great weekend!
Abrazos,
Kelsey
The English class went caroling this morning to the different offices singing “Jingle Bells” and “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.” Hard to believe tomorrow is our last day of class with this group that we’ve taught for 10 months now. We’re so proud of them!
Happy holidays from Batahola!
-Kelsey
Yesterday we officially started English class again with a new batch of students ready to learn! Since we ended with only six students in the class last year it is nice to have a bigger class that will still continue to grow and flux over the next few weeks. Erika and I are excited to get to know our students and are also feeling reenergized and challenged as we get back into our teaching routine.
Kelsey
Celebrating the last day of English Class with style. So thankful for our students and all of their hard work! Even though we only got to teach them for two months, we still feel a special connection with them as our first students of many more to come. The new class will start up in February, but until then…happy thanksgiving! We’re very grateful for all of our readers out there and send our love!
-Kelsey
Pizza part of language-learning? Didn’t you know? In our English class we like to celebrate birthday parties about every two months, as a chance for our students to enjoy each other’s company and reward themselves for their hard work. Sam led us in a couple of dinamicas (educational or just plain fun group games), and we shared pizza. Two younger students were sure to pull out their cellphones to video the silliness, much to embarrassment of the older students. 🙂
~ Andrea K.
Last day of English class! Twelve students finished the class, which started in February. Samuel and I co-taught the beginner’s English class, which was a learning-opportunity for us as well as the students. Final exam followed by hot dogs, pop, chocolate ice cream, writing affirmation notes to everyone in the class and of course, lots of photos. ~Andrea
English students Cristofer, Josefa and María José practice a ‘pharmacy’-themed skit during class. A fun challenge! I try to encourage the students to speak loudly, not turn their backs to the ‘audience’ (the rest of the class) and to show lots of emotions.
~Andrea
Two students play “matamoscas” (fly-swatter) with new vocabulary during our English class. Sam Estes and I co-teach this class, and try to incorporate plenty of games and dynamic activities that get the students conversing and moving around. A little competition really seems to get people animated!
~Andrea
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