Teaching and Learning

     Every Saturday afternoon at 2pm (14:00) is Aula de Ingles (english class) at the church.  When I am here I teach, otherwise the Elders take care of it.  I am used to teaching in an organized format, where each lesson builds upon skills taught previously.  This is pretty impossible for this class.  Some weeks there are two people, sometimes 20 people.  Some people know a little English, others almost none.  So, I have had to shed my desire to accomplish a lot in the classes and instead focus on learning something during that hour and hope they will use it during the week.
     This week, I decided to try something fun.  I wanted to teach words that have to do with time and order.  Such words as first, second, third, finally, then next.  It can also be called sequencing.  We reviewed the terms and then basic vocabulary for a group activity.  I showed them how  to talk about steps by opening a small water bottle, then pouring in water, then added a dry drink mix, then shaking it so it was ready to drink.  Oh, we did talk about taking the lid off and putting it back on.  Then, I divided the class into three groups.  One had to demonstrate washing your hands, another one showed how to brush your teeth and the third groups showed us how to cook rice.  It turned out to be a great lesson as the pictures below will show.
     In Primary, the children's class,  music is essential.  I have enjoyed teaching songs in Portuguese.  When we were visiting a different city last week and I was helping in Primary, imagine my surprise when the Elders had everyone stand up and the kids say this song in English: "Do as I'm Doing".  It is an action song where you repeat a motion, fast, slow, high or low.  It is a great way to break up a lot of sitting in a chair time for kids.
      All in all, most everything we do is teaching.  Sometimes we get frustrated when we have taught a principle three times and upon review, the investigator claims to have never heard of it.  So.. we approach it in a different way.  With the maid, I am always teaching her about cleaning, since her mud hut and my appliances don't have a lot in common.  The Elders teach us cultural things every day from other areas.  Just living in Africa is a time of teaching and learning and we really love doing both those things.

Who knew cooking rice would bring out the comedian in Guildino.

Washing hands takes more steps than they had English words for!

Paulo working on personal hygiene.

This group was serious about their work, even adding the step of opening the packages of the brush and paste.

Can you roll your arms high or low?

Finally a tribute to Elder Gibson and Elder Croft who had back to back birthdays
this week.  I made a carrot cake and had candles that kept re-lighting.  They are great Elders.