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PETER THOMPSON, BECK GLOVER, DANIEL HOLDSWORTH, JANINE de BARSE
Page 1
English Teaching Program - Newsletter Report
Gunargarang Rotaract Club - District 9690 - Australia/ 2004
A photo of the security bars being installed on the computer room at the school on Thursday.
It seems like an eternity,
Dona Vanda on a tour of some of the area that the children
but our three short weeks of teaching english have
we teach live in. We have already gone with her to look at
come to a close. Our last day at the school was
one side of the neighbourhood on Thursday. It is difficult
fantastic and very sad all at the same time. Firstly, it
to imagine that the students we teach live in the
was great because we made the last day a cultural
conditions that they do. When they come to class they are
one. We tought the kids about Aborigines and they
clean and tidy and while they are obviously not from
did aboriginal paintings, dancing to the didgeridoo,
wealthy families they appear to have reasonable living
and saw what our native animals look like. We even
standards, unfortunately this is not the case.
managed to give each student a bit of vegemite on
Unfortunately the majority of families in the area are
bread to try. The best aspect of the day was that we
more than just poor, the houses are made predominantly
gained permission to teach all three of our classes on
of wood and are in most cases not finished, the idea seems
the same day. This is something that had never
to be to worry about the roof first and then as you have the
happened. So, after three two hour classes, one after
money or can steal the building supplies, you can add
the other, we were all a little tuckered out. The sad
walls and if you are fortunate a door. The longer you live
side of the day was when we realized just how
in the neighbourhood the better your house becomes,
attached we had become to our students in three
building and repairing is a constant focus. The services
weeks. The majority of the kids said we should stay
are virtually nonexistent, there are power and telephone
and continue the lessons, and after lots of hugs and
lines but the average resident can afford neither. There is
good-byes, we finally made it through the day.
no water and it is very expensive to purchase what you
need from a truck that drives through the neighbourhood.
We have agreed to stay on at the school for another
The sewage system is a series of ditches that line the
half a week as Tuesday night has a meeting between
streets with pipes coming from the houses straight to the
the local residents and the police, at the school. The
open sewer. In the summer when it rains a lot the sewer
directors at the school have pleaded with us to be
fills with water and the local children swim in them.
there, as this is their chance to show everyone what
Obviously we will elaborate and show film and
they have been doing at the school. Obviously,
photographs when we get home but needless to say, we
English teachers from the other side of the world is
are touched and saddened by what we have seen, not just
something they are keen to advertise.
because it is so bad or such a contrast from where we are
staying only 20 minutes away but because we know that
Now that we have agreed to stay until Tuesday, we
in Brazil there are much worse slums.
have the opportunity to go with the schoolīs cook,
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PETER THOMPSON, BECK GLOVER, DANIEL HOLDSWORTH, JANINE de BARSE
Page 2
English Teaching Program - Newsletter Report
Gunargarang Rotaract Club - District 9690 - Australia/ 2004
On a more positive note, Thursday saw the arrival of the
students can do, with voice recognition capabilities. We
security bars for the computer classroom. We have since
felt that was a nice link after we had enabled the school to
found out that the school owns ten computers, and now
use their computers in the first place, when we bought the
that the security is not the issue, next week will see the
bars for the windows. The other books focused on
start of computer lessons for the students. We have
particular areas such as pronunciation, grammar, and
plenty of photos and film footage of this as it is
word choice. These will be presented to the school
something that we were particularly proud to have done.
officially next week, although we have already shown
each of the students, and they are aware of them.
We have had help in doing the project on a couple of
days in the form of current exchange students. Citra
We are leaving behind many items that the students can
from Indonesia, who has been in Brasil for seven
continue to use and they cover many areas of education.
months spent a couple of days at the school with us, and
For example, dictionaries, the cricket set, didgeridoos,
came on our visit to the area as well. Past exchange
resource books, school materials and of course the
student Nina, also came out with us on one of the days. It
memories.
was a very interesting aspect as we are now talking
about getting the English speaking exchange students in
With so many people having helped us on our journey, we
Joinville, to continue teaching at the school. Citra was
wanted to do something to say thank you. We invited each
the main force as she has been looking for something to
of these people on Saturday night, for a dinner as a mark of
do to help in some way in Brasil, and it seems we helped
our appreciation. It was a thoroughly enjoyable evening
her find that thing. The exchange committee is looking
and we have created so many new friendships around the
at possibilities to continue this infinetly.
world that it is going to be difficult, not to do somet
hing
similar again.
Yet another positive note to come out of our project, is
the conversations we have been having with Ronny, a
As this is our last newsletter from Brasil, we would each
Rotarian in Joinville, who runs the biggest language
like to take the opportunity to say how much we have
school in Joinville. He has asked us to select a student
appreciated the support from Australia. It hasnīt all been
who is not only intelligent but determined, to receive
easy, but we have finally accomplished what we set out to
free English lessons at his school for the next four years.
achieve. Obviously we will be seeing everyone shortly,
We have a young boy named Jocemir, who is 12 and was
once we get back and finalise our presentations. So
an absolute stand out, and something like this means the
thankyou once again, and we look forward to giving you
world to him and his family. We are going to be keeping
all the full details after our journey.
in very close contact with him when we return, and
.
continuing our support for him.
Another student who was a little bit older (14), Pamella,
was studying at our school, but received a scholarship to
attend high school in the city. We have been talking to
the Rotarians about helping her by attending RYLA and
perhaps Youth Exchange in the future.
Another update on all the donations we received being
well spent, we purchased a series of English text books
and resources to leave with the English teachers at the
school after we have gone. These included a computer
A street near the school
program that has activities, and exercises that the
