“So you’ve just moved near Vaux and you want to get involved with the community and get to know people? I know a good way…. The Foyer Culturel of Dange St Romain are wanting to run English classes for children on a Wednesday… I think you’re just the person…here is the number you need to contact”
Teaching primary school kids??/ not sure I would know how after having done students for so long! But I thought it was worth ringing the contact and having a chat about what would be expected. The next thing I knew... I was signed up. I’ve done 2 sessions so far, have survived and have actually enjoyed it. Every Wednesday (apart from school holidays) I go up the steps of what used to be St Romain (the other half of the commune – Dangé- is on the other side of the Vienne) town hall… it is a bijoux mairie… and I play games in English (highly educational ones of course!) with 9 kids between the ages of 6 and 10. Last week we did fruit and veg! This week we are on holiday. I am amazed at how enthusiastic they are. On my first day I arrived ¼ hour late having been told that the classes were from 10.30 until 11.15…. the parents were told 10.15 – 11.00!! ooops … a good start! I agreed with the parents that I would make the time. When 11.15 came round I couldn’t make out why none of the parents had turned up… I mean by that that none of the parents had come to the door to claim their child … so I carried on… 11.30 still no parents and I was beginning to run out of ideas.
Me: “je ne sais pas pourquoi vos parents ne sont pas encore là”
Kids: “ Mais si ils sont là, ils attendent dehors”
That’s exactly what they were doing… waiting patiently and respectfully outside the classroom door. Oh so not English!!
I have discovered a fantastic web site for EFL resources for children … http://www.buzyteacher.com/ !! Packed with ready made worksheets, games etc… Watch this space!
