I was extremely pleased to be asked to speak at the December graduation of the intensive program for IHCI. I also helped to give out diplomas of success to the many adults and children who have worked tirelessly over the course of the last year. In my speech, I reminded them that they have a solid foundation of English now, but they must continue to practice so they don't lose what they have gained. I am overall very impressed with the level of English these students have acquired and it's thanks to the hard work of the teachers and administrators at IHCI.
A group of about 20 seniors from Dowal are planning to attend university in the US. The American Corner asked me to provide a series of workshops for these students about narrative essay writing for their applications. The workshop was a two part series. The first included a break-down of the common application and the five new essay topics that are available to students in 2014. We looked at examples and discussed appropriate essay topics. The second workshop included tips on organization, style, editing, and revising. I was very delighted to share with these bright students and read some of the first drafts of their essays. I wish them all luck!
This teacher training focused on vowel pronunciation. I thought it was pretty fun! We practiced some tongue twisters, a very difficult poem and reviewed all the different vowel teams, their sounds, rules and exceptions. This is tricky business! We discussed different methods to effectively teach pronunciation. Here is a fun poem to try: (I have a recording on the teachers page!)
Brush Up on Your English I take it you already know Of tough and bough and cough and dough? Others may stumble, but not you On hiccough, thorough, slough, and through. Well don't! And now you wish, perhaps, To learn of less familiar traps. Beware of heard, a dreadful word That looks like beard but sounds like bird. And dead: it's said like bed, not bead, For goodness sake don't call it deed! Watch out for meat and great and threat (They rhyme with suite and straight and debt). A moth is not a moth as in mother Nor both as in bother, nor broth as in brother, And here is not a match for there, Nor dear and fear, for bear and pear. And then there's dose and rose and lose-- Just look them up--and goose and choose And cork and work and card and ward And font and front and word and sword And do and go, then thwart and cart, Come, come! I've hardly made a start. A dreadful Language? Why man alive! I learned to talk it when I was five. And yet to write it, the more I tried, I hadn't learned it at fifty-five.
This week was the last conversation club of the year! We had a good group that played games and shared stories. One of my favorite games is Just-a Minute- students have to get others in their group to say a specific word by describing it! It's great practice! We also read and discussed "Twas the Night Before Christmas," the most famous Christmas poem and sang The 12 Days of Christmas. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Teachers at IHCI came together for another professional development to engage in and discuss speaking activities to use in the classroom. We reviewed the three basic ways we use speaking: interactive, transactive, and performance. We examined many different activities for each in Florencia and again in Comayajuela.
This was the last IHCI cultural event of 2013 Hispanic Cultural Gallery. Over 100 artist's works were displayed and for sale. I am highly impressed with the quality of art I saw at the exhibition. I even bought my first piece of art! When I pick it up, I will post a picture of it here. It is a portrait of Charlie Chaplin and a beautiful qoute about smiling.
This week has been very busy. Many students are getting ready to graduate and thinking about traveling to the US to study in the Universities. The new College Common Application has five essay choices. I have been working with students to review and edit their essays and give feedback. What I had seen so far is amazing work. Students here have some very strong stories to share and their writing skills are excellent. Next week I will be presenting information and tips for students at Dowal School about the Common App Essay.
Today I had the privilege of helping to pass out diplomas and English Language Certificates to the IHCI graduating class of 2013. There were two ceremonies, back-to-back. First was the Administration class of about 30 students. Then the Science and Letters class of about 60. I am so proud of them and their hard work! Congratulations!