An introduction

Hi!

This probably should have been the first blog I wrote and not the second, but here I am, and I thought an introduction might be in the works.

My name is Jen and this is a picture of me sitting on a rampart at Galle Fort in Southern Sri Lanka. I am a volunteer with the Paavima project, living in Madiha, Matara, for about two months, between October and November, 2006.

My mission: to give community members a chance to practice and extend their English conversation skills.

As I have taught my students to say: "Hello! My name is Jenny. I am 25 years old. I am from Canada. I have two brothers and no sisters. I am a teacher."

Anyone reading the blog can feel free to ask me any questions in by adding a comment.

I am from Canada but have been living in Thailand for the last two years. I started working as an ESL teacher maybe four or five years ago. My first job was at a summer school in Taiwan while I was still at University. For two years, I worked part time for the Montreal School Commission in three high schools, facilitating English activities. Then I worked for a year as a teacher in an English immersion program in a small school in North Western Thailand. I ended up staying on at the school, taking on some more administrative tasks, until recently when I felt the need for a vacation.

I found Paavima on the internet. A Rescue Diver myself, the idea of living and diving in a small town in the South really appealed to me. I am happy to have something to contribute and I love being back in the classroom again.

At the Polhenna school I teach four different groups twice a week. About 25 children (on average) show up for every Age 6 -11 class. The older children often have to attend extra tuition classes for school. There are usually about 15-20 of them. There are about 10 women who come to the women's classes. Some are married, others unmarried, widowed, old and young. We laugh a lot. There are seven men in the men's class, mostly divers from the Paavima project. They are excited to learn, or at least, excited to have a young female teacher. They are always asking me for more classes!

Already almost half my time has gone. I need to get my digital camera out more and take more pictures. Hopefully I will be in touch again, posting more about the project next week!