Being in the Peace Corps is like majoring in something your
parents don’t understand “So, you’re majoring in what, philosophy?” “Wait, I
don’t understand, I thought the point of you going to college was so you could
get a job.” It’s one of those things that is hard to explain, especially when
you don’t come from a wealthy background… “We left a poor country to give you
opportunities, and now you’re running off to a poorer country?” Being considered
one of the “smart ones” in the family also didn’t help for it begot a lot of
questions about career path and money… “Wait, but diplomats don’t make that
much money…” and “So you’re going to this other country, and then what, when
are you going to start making money?”
It’s one of the most misunderstood paths one can take, for
even those who are supportive - such as my parents - often don’t really understand
what’s going on. So my father, like most other people, has just resorted to
calling me crazy “She’s in Africa again, don’t ask me why, that’s what she
likes, she’s crazy.”
I won’t deny that I’m crazy, anyone who knows me well can
attest to that. But my being here is not a result of my craziness nor is it
illogical - it actually makes perfect sense. The logic goes something like
this: I want to be a development professional, becoming a development
professional requires a lot of experience in development, Peace Corps is the
premier place to get development experience because you get to do work on the
ground and it is highly respected by development institutions, organizations,
schools, and professionals. So yeah, it makes sense.
Peace Corps gives volunteers the opportunity to do real
development work in the areas of education, health, agriculture/environment,
and business among others. It’s a path that makes sense for those who like to
rough it and get their hands dirty trying to solve real world problems. It’s
rough and it’s not for everyone, but it is for me.
As an education volunteer I am doing many things, but my
main goal is to help English teachers develop their English proficiency and
teaching methodology (I’ll get to the problematic nature of teaching a colonial
language in a different blog post, I promise) because English is the medium of
instruction at the middle school, high school, and college levels. Students who
do not understand English, therefore, have a slim chance of making it to
university and escaping the depths of poverty.
On Monday I submitted an ambitious proposal to the director
of my school with 14 projects I intend to accomplish in the next 4 months. The
proposal is below:
Proposal
for Second Semester Projects
Below you will find a list of 14 projects that Jaynice Del
Rosario, the Education Peace Corps Volunteer in Shone, will endeavor to
accomplish with the Shone community from March – June 2014 (2006 E.C.)
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English Club: We
propose to hold a formal English club on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays
from 11: 15 – 12:15 local time in the English Language Improvement Center at
Shone Primary School Number 1. The English club will have a maximum of 40
students and will provide them with English language instruction that is
effective, interesting, and fun. Students will begin by honing basic English
skills and work their way up to reading more proficiently and speaking more
fluently. All club lessons will employ activities that focus on the 4 language
learning skills: listening, reading, writing, and speaking.
English Language
Improvement Center (ELIC): We propose to equip the English Language
Improvement Center for the use of students and teachers alike. We aim to
provide students with books, color paper, pens, markers, and a reading area. We
will also have instructional materials for teachers including: books, color
paper, markers, flip chart paper, chalk and other teaching aids. Teachers will
be trained on how to use and reuse the materials to minimize waste.
Better World Books:
We propose to get book donations for the student-reading area in the English
Language Improvement Center.
English Day Lottery:
We propose to revamp English Day with a twist called English Day Lottery.
English Day Lottery is a program created by an Education Peace Corps Volunteer
that consists of handing out mobile cards to students who make an effort to
speak English on English day, putting all of the mobile cards in a bag at the
end of the day, and having a lottery. The student whose number is chosen wins a
prize.
World Wise Schools
Pen Pal Program: We propose to have a pen pal program as part of our
English club. English club members will write letters to peers in the United
States and build friendships while simultaneously improving their English
writing skills.
Homework
Help/Tutoring Hour: We propose to help students who need help with any
subject for one hour per shift every day.
English Shai Bunna
Conversation Hour: We propose to hold an English conversation hour for
teachers once a week over shai bunna. This allotted time will give teachers the
opportunity to practice speaking English with each other while discussing interesting
topics over shai bunna.
Project Design and
Management Training (PDM): We propose to host a training session on Project
Design and Management for school principals and woreda leaders.
Teacher Training on
Organization and Planning (CPD): We propose to host a training session on
organization and planning for all teachers in the cluster schools. The training
will focus specifically on lesson planning, SMART objectives, lesson sequence,
scaffolding, and preparing teaching aids. All participants who successfully
complete the training will receive a certificate of completion and CPD credit.
Training on
Presentation and Management (CPD): We propose to host a training session on
presentation and management for all teachers in the cluster schools. The
training will focus specifically on activating prior knowledge and experience,
modeling, time management, group work, lesson adaptation, and feedback. All
participants who successfully complete the training will receive a certificate
of completion and CPD credit.
Training in Active
Learning Methods (CPD): We propose to host a training session on active
learning methods for all teachers in the cluster schools. The training will
focus specifically on how teachers can teach in a student-centered manner where
the students do the vast majority of the work. All participants who
successfully complete the training will receive a certificate of completion and
CPD credit.
Mini-Program for 1-4
Teachers: We propose to work with 1-4 teachers to create a small program
that will address their needs. The program will endeavor to teach them both
English and English teaching methodology.
Future Leaders of
Ethiopia Team: We propose to work with young adults in the community to
create a team of role models that will provide motivational workshops for Shone
youth and inspire them to take their educations seriously.
Gender Programming:
We propose to work with the girls’ club and the gender club at Shone Primary
School Number 1. We propose to create programming that will help girls develop
their self-confidence and find their voices.
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Wish me luck!
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