When we first arrived here in 2008, a number of parents requested help for their children who are studying English in school. Sr. Charlotte is now teaching five weekly English classes in the parish/community center. Her classes are very popular, and more and more youth and adults are asking to join.
The students pay for their classes with: galletas (cookies), eggs, cuajada (cheese), chayote (a squash-like vegetable), bananas, star fruit, potatoes, tomatoes, beans, oranges… in other words, whatever is in season. Juxel, however, seems to grab things sold at his family’s pulpería (convenience store) as he walks out the door to class- we look forward to seeing what he’ll pay with each week (a pack of batteries, a bar of soap, a light bulb, boxes of matches, two cans of pear juice, etc.!)
Occasionally older youth request help with their English homework… as when Thelma requested help translating a pop Selena song into Spanish.
One of Sr. Charlotte’s classes chose a donated book, Nate the Great and Snowy Trail, to read and translate. The students are enjoying learning with literature, songs, games, etc.
These students are doing better in their regular English classes at their public schools – and seem to be able to help other pupils AND their teachers with the language!
1 comment:
how wonderful that YOU are the foreign language teacher. You are opening up a whole new world to these willing students. the best way to teach is to make it relevant and fun, with lots of repetition. Buena suerte!
Post a Comment