The training continues to go well as we wrap up day 3. Val continued to give the teachers new ideas for how to plan creative lessons. Today, we used a number of songs that can teach various language functions - saying hello, making small talk, asking if someone is busy, etc. Then we had the teachers write a song teaching a particular language function - and perform it before the class. Some were very funny.
Right after lunch, I did another Culture Corner talking about how some cultures emphasize power distance (e.g., "I'm the boss and I am higher than you" vs. "he puts his pants on one leg at a time just like me.")
I'm pretty sure it was just coincidence, that the teachers were very sleepy right after I talked, so Val had us stretch partway through her demonstration of websites for English as a Second Language teacher.
Since we are a new site for the camp, top level education officials are very interested in what is happening. Around noon today, we got a call saying that the officials would be there at 4pm - just as the day's training would be ending and many would be heading home while others stayed for free talk. The leaders told the teachers that they would all need to stay for free talk - to represent the camp well for the visitors. As far as I could tell, everyone stayed. It made it a little difficult to have good free talk with 20 in a group - but it worked.
This evening, I had a very good talk with a college student who is interested in important things. It seemed like this visit was pre-planned.
Please keep thinking of us.
