Today is one of those times when you turn to each other and say, “Didn’t we just get here yesterday?” And at the same time, “Several lifetimes have happened.” Both are true.
Every trip is extraordinary, bringing its unique gifts and insights. This trip has, hands down, been the largest leap in our ultimate vision for Living Compassion Kantolomba to be a center for excellence in English learning. In this year of Learning to Love Learning, what better focus for a trip?!
In the preschool classroom today, we broke out the actual Genki software to try out with the children. It was wonderful fun! The children were enchanted by the animated figures on the computer enticing them to speak and sing English. These are the children who have been working with Joy for over a year now, and they were able to track perfectly. It is an exciting tool for down the road, as we get better set up with technology.
Working with the Genki software
Phil underlines the point the animated figures on the computer are making.
Wow, check that out!
“What do you want to do?” One of several songs we grown-ups find ourselves singing upon waking in the middle of the night. We spared you the video so as not to condemn you to the same fate.
Over on the adult side of things, Anna and Charles did a final run-through of the components of the English program the older children and grown ups will use. Both English programs we brought are rich and deep, and there will be no way to learn it all in two weeks. But, as a team, we have done a stellar job of all making sure everyone understands how the programs work and how to learn more about them as we go along. Talk about teaching what you want to learn! We have all been students and teachers this trip, from the youngest preschoolers (who served as our teachers for how to teach what works) to those who brought the English curriculum from the U.S. and have learned SO much about teaching, learning and working as a team. It has been an honor to participate.
Charles navigating like a pro around the computer
Continuing work on the English learning posters
Charles wrote up the timetable Jen and Theresa created for the project going forward. This was an unintended side-benefit of this trip. At a certain point we realized that the possibilities we were creating were so many and multi-faceted that the only prayer we had of actually seeing them come to fruition was to lay out a daily/weekly schedule, giving time to each endeavor. Theresa is thrilled. She has wanted a structure like this for some time. It is fun to see how many new things there will be for the team: tutoring sessions, advanced English for the teachers, everyday English for the whole LC team, library/reading hours, Googling sessions… on and on!
Charles works on the timetable
English tools ready to post
In the afternoon, those who will use the Genki program met one last time for a walk-through. We made sure everyone knows how to use the whole system, how to find what is needed, and how to answer questions that come up. Another great process.
The Genki team
Finding the way around the technology pieces
Another wonderful accomplishment this trip has been capitalizing on the small library we have. There is FAR more interest in it now. We created a simple check-out/in system for books. We will bring as many books as we can carry on subsequent trips.
Theresa has the girls create check-out cards for the books they are reading.
A sample card
One of the signs that the culture of English is taking root is watching the more fluent speakers begin to help their beginner colleagues. Veronica, playfully, has begun to engage others in simple English exchanges.
Veronica addresses the lunch room in English.
Margaret and Veronica practice together
Pauline shows off several of the hats.
Pauline shows off several of the hats.
The teachers insisted on having a photo with their “professors.”
Anyone who has been here knows, and likely you veteran blog-readers as well, that Zambians greet and say farewell with song. We all wait as long as possible, but soon it is time to let the singing commence. Some songs are in Bemba, and after years of being regaled we are able to mumble along a bit with them. A couple are in English: “Bye, bye our dear visitors… We shall never forget you. Although you go very, very far away we shall never forget you.” And they mean it. Each time we leave, they list a growing register of who they want to send greetings to—they seem to remember anyone who has ever come with us. And they always end with: “Give our love to the whole team in America.” And since that is you, we are passing along the enormous, beyond description love that is the project in Kantolomba.
Thank you for all you do. Thank you for reading. Thank you for walking with us. We will see/hear/talk with most of you in other contexts, but we will meet again here, in the magic of the blogs, on our next Zambia adventure.
In Deep Gassho,
The Africa Team
The team singing farewell
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A small taste of the exquisite beauty of the singing
And it is always a beautiful thing to drive away and see signs that Living Compassion Kantolomba will go right on being what it is—a place to Be, a place to play.