New Class Puts Spin On Old Lessons

This post is a mix of two English Club meetings at Gymnasium #1 in Zhytomyr. If you view some earlier posts on this blog you will see a lesson with students at Ivan Franko University where they view a Norman Rockwell painting and then create a dialogue based on what they have deduced from the painting. It gave students the opportunity to use their imaginations while engaging in nonacademic conversation. You will also view another lesson from the Window On America group where they read Jamaica Kincaid's poem "Girl" and then write their own poem called "Worker". Compare these two earlier lessons now with the students and teachers at Gymnasium #1. The only difference is that the students were asked to create a poem called "Student" where they wrote about the things teachers said to them.  I must give these Gymnasium students and teachers much credit for their high level of participation and the fact that they are coming in over their winter break. That takes commitment!

New Year's Spectacular

In a previous post I have discussed my work with the Gymnasium #1 English Club. As part of my work with Zhytomyr's Ivano Franko University I work with students at a local high school. Once a week I hop on the trolleybus and make may way to the other side of town to meet with the students at the local gymnasium. As the holidays have approached, the level of activity in the club has dropped off significantly, but with good reason. For, on this last meeting of 2015, I was invited to attend the gymnasium's holiday performance. I'm glad I went!

As you will see from the pictures and (hopefully) videos below, the students worked extra hard to put on a good show while having fun in the process. It seems like every class got in on the act with students from all grades singing, dancing, and reading poetry. One the highlights for me was the boy with the guitar who played "Jingle Bells". Not only was his playing excellent, but the audience began to sing along in English. Next, there was a play that somehow involved Batman and the Joker (a Comic-Con Christmas?). I didn't always know what was happening because I'm still learning Ukrainian but it was fun to watch nonetheless. Finally there were the Eight Formers singing "Last Christmas" completely in English. As an ESL teacher I must give high praise for anyone who gets up in front of an audience and sings a song in a tongue other than their own. It was a wonderful kick-off to the New Year's festivities.     

Jingle Bells Sing Along (with slight accent)

Christmas/New Year's with Batman, Joker, and Friends

The Emcees 

More Holiday Singing

Last Christmas