August 5, 2010

It was only my second day, but things were different already. Some people had come to teach the students and staff some first aid tricks and medical and safety issues. Thus, right after prayer they started to show films and showed the students an ambulance. The whole school day was mixed up and not many classes took place. After lunch I gave the maps I had brought to the older classes and explained them where different countries in the world are. They were quite happy about it and as I had thought, had no idea where places in the world actually are. So I hope they will continue to talk about it and thus learn more. Because there were no teachers in some classes, due to the continuing medical program, I decided to do something good and teach some English words. I started with different vehicles, by writing them on the board and explaining them. Actually I was planning to play hangman, which I had taught them the year before. I did put a few lines and the first letter on the board and asked for the rest. Because they were not able to guess the meaning, I told them the word in sign language, but it was still difficult for them. Due to the fact that they don’t hear the pronunciation it is very hard for them to distinguish between the different letters, especially to put them in the right order.

After we had collected a few words, I asked the students to repeat the meaning of them and it was then that I could easily see how little they connect with the written words. Although there were not many words and letters, they already started to mix them up. Nevertheless we managed to get through the list. I then erased the words and asked the students to tell me the letters for a vehicle I signed to them. Most of the time it worked well, but to make sure that they don’t forget the words I am planning to go to the same class tomorrow and ask them for the letters.

in the girls hostel