In July, as Thai schools began to open back up, we decided to re-start our weekly English program. Every Saturday, we open our doors at 9am for a crowd of kiddos.
We start with music and a couple read-aloud stories–I’m still working toward story hour right here in my home! Lun then teaches a Bible story, sometimes with music or a memory verse.
We then gather around for rice that Thida has beautifully put together. I love this time every week.
We then break into groups for English and Burmese classes. We have four groups. The 2-5 year olds begin with Burmese with Thida and then move to English with Pwin Pyu Hein and I; the 6-9 year olds are opposite that, with some extra writing practice in both English & Burmese.
In English, these two groups are working through the alphabet and focusing on a letter each week–which brought us to “I is for Ice Cream!” this week.
The older two groups are divided by level. Lun helps them to learn new English words connected with the Bible story she’s just taught. Our expatriate neighbor, Mia, comes by to teach the two older groups in English, too–usually with a game or craft or something magical!
And just like that our house is a menagerie of voices for an hour or so, until they all move outside.
Each week we try to give the younger kids a creative way to work on their English: making grapes with their fingerprints and eating grapes; folding origami hats…and then ice cream. Can you really learn ice cream without eating it? I think not.
We went all out with beautiful cones and rainbow ice cream!
