All’s Well that Ends Well
July 1, 2009 – 8:18 am
Dear Friends,
Last week I wrote that we were preparing for the end of the year party. This week I am happy to report that the end of the year party went very well. Of course there were a few bumps, but over all I believe it was a good end to a successful school year, and I can see that the school leadership has good plans to make things even better next year.
Perhaps I’m biased, but I must say that I think the most impressive part of the program was the English skit by the second grade class. One of the students played the role of the teacher and they held a mock English lesson. The students greeted the teacher, they sang a song, they each introduced themselves, they named several classroom items, and then they went over the seven days of the week. The students really did a fantastic job. I could tell that the parents and the guests were very impressed, as they watched.
Even after the party was over and everyone had left, I was talking with the Director and he was still talking about what a great job the kids did with the English class. He explained to me that it is rare to see children that young speaking English like that. Here in Congo Brazzaville all the students begin learning English in what is equivalent to our 6th grade.
Some private schools offer English at the primary level, but it usually begins at what would be our 4th or 5th grade. Even then it is usually just a few words like “good morning”, “how are you?”, and “goodbye.” So, you can see how this short skit by the 2nd grade class pleased the parents.
What really amazes me, though, is how God can do so much with so little. I didn’t always feel like I was doing much, just teaching a little bit of English each day. But at the end of the year it adds up. Now the parents are very happy with what is going at the school and this in turn helps the school to work well.
Thank you again for your continued prayers and support.
Tracy Pilewski
Just a few quick questions…
June 28, 2009 – 5:33 pmSchool’s Out for The Summer
June 23, 2009 – 5:37 pm
Dear Friends,
This was the last week of school. Now we are preparing for the end of the year party which will take place Saturday the 27th.
I believe that the school year ended successfully. I was looking through the results of each class and there were very few students who didn’t pass and will be repeating the same class. In terms of my work, well, the students are not fluent in English, but I think they learned quite a bit in the months that I have been here.
The students in the older class have fun trying to speak in English the little that they have learned and they are always asking me to teach them more. The younger classes are always very excited when I come and work in their classes. The second grade class has even prepared a mock English class skit to present at the party and show their parents what they have learned.
The parents are also very pleased that their children are learning some English. At a recent parent meeting many of the parents expressed how happy they were that their children are learning English and that even the preschoolers can greet someone in English.
Now that school is out I am not really sure what I will be doing, but I know God has some plans for my summer. I am looking forward to planning some special activities for the children, since many of them will just be hanging out at their homes all the time. I am also looking forward to visiting some other parts of the Congo and participating in the different youth camps that are planned.
Thank you again for your continued prayers and support.
Tracy Pilewski
