As of tomorrow, I will officially be an English teacher. How did that happen?
I’ve managed to get myself roped into taking a couple of classes for teenage girls (12 to 15 year olds) on Saturday mornings. I couldn’t say no but, as a youth worker, it’ll be interesting to compare Palestinian teenagers with teenagers back home.
The classes will be at Madraset Askar Al-Mokhtalata (Askar Mixed School). It’s in Askar Al-Jadeed (New Askar), one of the refugee camps. It’s the newest camp, built to house the overflow from Old Askar. (I haven’t learnt the Arabic for “old” yet.) I took a servees (a shared taxi) out there yesterday with Mohammed, one of the local volunteers, so that I would know how to get there for tomorrow. Thankfully, it’s easy enough to get to so – even though I’m in a foreign country, can’t speak the language and have a poor sense of direction at the best of times – I’m sure I won’t get lost.
Didn’t get to see much of the refugee camp itself, but walked up to where the school is. It was a big UNRWA (UN Relief and Works Association... I think) flag outside and a plaque by the main door which says that the building was built with money from the Norwegian government. ‘Mon the Norwegians! (There’s apparently an equivalent school in Balata camp built with money from the Netherlands government. ‘Mon the Dutch!) On the main door there’s a sign that has a rifle and a big red line through it. Someone has graffiti’ed onto the sign, in English: “I love you”.
Also met the Women’s Union Comittee group on Wednesday. I'll be doing English classes with them twice a week starting next week. They’re a really nice bunch and seem really keen to learn. I’m not used to working with people who are so keen, so that might take a bit of getting used to. They’re mostly women, as you might expect, and mostly housewives from what I could tell. I did a brief exercise with them, asking them to write down as much in English as they could, in an attempt to gauge how much English they already have.
Examples of what they wrote:
“I am from Nablus,”
“I hope for peace.”
“My favourite colour is red.”
“My husband is in an Israeli prison.”
5 comments:
Another inherits the teaching genes... And an English teacher, too!! "'mon" anyone who helps, so 'mon you!
It is difficult to imagine the differences in culture and experiences you are facing. Thanks for keeping in touch so that we can stay with you in spirit. (The pictures help, too...) x
Sounds like you're having a pretty full on time! Nothing like being thrown in... not quite at the deep end.
Absorb the enthusiasm... one of the most heart retching things I heard last week was one of my kids telling me they were bored. I figured it's coz he spends most of his time playing Harry Potter on the wii and can't entertain himself in a classroom full of 'things' which CAN occupy the other children! Needless to say, I've not taken it as a criticism against myself! (I am learning lots right now too, not just my kids!)
I'm sure you'll be a great teacher. Like MTG says, 'mon you'!
Have I ever told you how much I like graffiti? I could go into a big shpeel about why I like it so much, from a purely sociological perspective... but I wouldn't want to bore you! If you see any more of interest, photos would be awesome.
Hope your class went ok today and your taxi journey went well. I'm so glad you're keeping us up-to-date with your journey, but it is really hard to imagine all the new things that you are dealing with. Thinking of you lots and looking forward to the next instalment.
K x
'Mon you ... Old is 'quadim', by the way Margaret says she'd love for Wagih to be around to help you with your Arabic! UNRWA is the 'United Nations Relief and Works Agency', just for the same of accuracy. Isn't it good to have your dad around to help with abreviations! All the best with all the new challenges. You're on a fascinating journey.
Excuse the mistake ... The Arabic word for 'old' is QADIM. Just for the sake of accuracy ...
Ain't it nice that even when you are on the other side of the world, your dear parents are still correcting your English! Brilliant. All my sentiments have been echoed by my family members so no need to repeat them other than to say a Coldplay song came on my iPod the other day and made me think of you. Also wanted to share this wee gem from a wee boy when Nicky, Alexander and I were out at the weekend. A wee 10 year old or so boy said to all his mates that "when you are a grown up you have to have a job or you have no money." I thought that was really funny but on thinking about it, that might indeed be true but in your case James I think you can be rich in so many other ways...Keep doing some good. We are all so proud of you.
M x
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