English Club 2012-2013

Peace Corps volunteers often talk about "primary" projects and "secondary" projects. Since we're in the Natural Resources Conservation program here in Ecuador, our primary projects focus on the environment and conservation, like our dry toilets project. Secondary projects include activities that Peace Corps volunteers are involved in that don't fit into the main focus of their program. Like many volunteers, we've had a lot of requests for English classes, tutoring, clubs, homework help, and how to otherwise magically transport knowledge of the English language into one's brain.

Helping community members learn English is a great way to become integrated into the community, especially when you've first been plopped into it after training. Unfortunately, most people, after those first few meetings, get tired, freak out, or (for whatever reason) give up--because learning a new language is HARD.

But that's why I put so much effort into my English club.

Practicing pronunciation.

Back in October of 2012, the English teachers at the Catholic school in town got excited about an English club for the high school students. I was skeptical, especially after already failing to get two other groups in town going (despite initial enthusiasm on the part of the participants who had requested them), and because it was requested by the teachers, not the students. But I had the time, so I gave it a go. I was pleasantly surprised the first two weeks when participation doubled. Students seemed excited.

Aaaand . . . then they stopped coming. Practically the only student I had for a month was the nine-year-old son of a teacher-friend of mine--he came whether the high school students did or not. Then, one week he decided to bring his friends. Then their parents, all of them teachers, got excited. They approached me and asked if I'd be willing to officially start a group for the children of teachers, all of them around nine years old with nowhere to go between the end of class and 3 pm when their parents went home.

My first four students attempting to pronounce "freeze," which we then used in a game along with other, more common verbs.

This was perfect. The students were already excited. They were already coming. They were at the school whether we made a club or not. And they were young enough to still have to do what their parents told them to.

We spent one hour a week with each other over the next seven months, learning vocabulary, practicing conversation, singing, talking about the culture of the United States (and that it's not the same thing as Europe). They played games, made artwork, heard stories, and became good friends with one another.

Learning verbs. This one was "climb."

Red Light/Green Light (or "semaforo" as the kids called it) can get pretty extreme. We learned this game to practice "go" and "stop" as they already knew "red" and "green."

Student vacations start today, so we'll be taking a break for the next couple of months. We ended the year with a party, balloons, prizes, games, and cookies--all to celebrate their success.

Simon says, "JUMP!"

And even though they can't hold a conversation in English, even though most of them still confuse "black" and "white," even though some of them still greet me "good morning" at 2 in the afternoon, they CAME. They participated. They brought their friends. They learned what it means to learn a language. Most importantly, they'll be back next year, and we can pick up where we left off. That's success.

The students standing on the left are the core group (minus a few who couldn't make it to the party). The five on the right-hand side showed up and wanted to play with us, even though they didn't know the English words. They learned!

This group is one to hold onto. They're the kind of people that make community development work. They're what makes being a Peace Corps volunteer worth it.

..kirstie..

This post is part of our Peace Corps Project series.