This week, Peace Corps held its annual “Spring Camp” where
the Peace Corps Trainees (that’s me) hold an entire week of English classes and
activities at the local Dar Chebab. Moroccan kids love it because they get free
English from native speakers and Peace Corps loves it because it’s an instant
training ground for the newbies. Each trainee is supposed to teach at least one
30 minute English class and lead one small activity; however, since our group
has been struck by illness, those of us still standing have been teaching several
hours per day.
Starting the week with the “beginner” students, our lessons
included greetings, parts of the body, senses and numbers. As the week progressed,
we transitioned to the immediate/advanced students, engaging in discussions
about pollution in Morocco and the role of women in society. In addition to
strict language study, I choreographed and taught a dance to the song “Jai Ho”
with a fellow trainee as well as playing soccer, Frisbee and various ‘camp’
games with the students.
Unlike most communities in the Western world, there are not
a lot of other activities for kids outside of school hours. Organized sports,
musical groups or clubs and other “extracurriculars” are minimal. The result is that the majority of intelligent,
creative and fun-loving children spend their free time watching TV instead of
fostering their talents. It’s difficult to know that my host sister’s beautiful
voice will be restricted to singing along to her favorite Arab Idol stars on
primetime instead of school choir. The positive result is that Spring Camps
students are engaged; they have chosen to spend their vacation studying instead
of catching up on the best Turkish Soap Operas. The students want to be there and want to learn. Whether they attend out
of utter boredom, dreams of a bright future or just to take pictures with the
Americans, we have been blessed with enthusiastic students. What else could a
teacher ask for?
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