The New Term.

We have finally got into the swing of things - starting up the engine takes some time after such a wonderful holiday. The language centre is so dynamic and the reason I say that is because there are always new students to change the group dynamics and the timetable is always changing. The teacher trainers are getting ready for the tefl course, which will be held in June. Tefl is a monster of a course, definitely not for the faint hearted and I'm not trying to deter any potential students. Tefl is a life changing experience. Having been on the teacher trainer team, I bear testimony as a witness to the amazing growth that . . . just happens. Quite amazing. I think what is difficult about tefl is the paradigm shift, students need to adjust and there is no time - one month is very short. But in the end our students come out of the experience more solid people.

I'd like to welcome Daniel from Columbia and Bibi from the DRC. I hope your stay at the language centre is perfect.

The Language Centre Excursion!

On the 18th March the students and Teachers of the Language Centre had a fabulous day!

10am was chaos! Students and teachers were trying to find each other (and themselves I suppose). Students were allocated to a teacher and a car and then we were off to Pelhem school! When we arrived at the school we were greeted by a pelhem teacher and were escorted down to where we were going to do our show. I could see that our students were nervous, they hadn't spoken English in front of such a large audience before. Our students told the pelhem pupils all about their countries - the food, the dance, the dress, the languages and the culture. . .

and the pelhem pupils loved them! The brazilian students were the stars of the show, they showed everyone how to dance the brazilian way - and boy did they dance! But the African students had the pupils riveted. As a teacher I watched from the back and I was amazed at how interested and responsive the pelhem pupils were, they were only Grade 6 but they asked our students such insightful questions.

When the show was over, a young boy very eloquently thanked our students. All the pupils were given sweets and then we were off again. . . this time to the Botanical gardens.

I followed Jenny with the brazilian students - we took the back roads. The students found the environment that we travelled through very intriguing.

We eventually arrived at the gardens. Every single time I go there I feel such awe at the majesty of those trees, they must have seen and heard people who have been laid to rest decades ago. They stretch their boughs to the heavens yet they still stay grounded - a lesson we can all learn. Jenny, who knows the gardens like her own garden, knew exactly where we were all marching to and to our delight a beautiful table and bench emerged from the greenery. We unpacked our picnic lunch and started buttering rolls and pouring juice. Everyone seemed content munching their rolls.

Time was ticking. We packed up all our goods and headed towards the coffee shop. We met an incredibly large tree on our path, deciding to measure the circumference - we needed 12 sets of open arms!!

We ended a good day with a fragrant cup of filter coffee.