We were thrilled to receive a letter from the English teacher last week (see below), who we began to employ in February. He gives English lessons at our school and also teaches our village
children twice a week on Wednesday afternoons and Saturday mornings on the
beach where they live. We joined his
lessons a couple of times in February.
When we returned to Sri Lanka in July, the weather was not
always as kind and there was a monsoon sea which had covered half the
beach. We quickly realised that we would
need to look for an alternative classroom so that the children could enjoy
their English lessons uninterrupted.
There was a Tsunami-damaged house next door to where our friend, the
fisherman Udaya lives. We paid for 6
months’ rent and Udaya and his friends turned it into a classroom. We were absolutely thrilled to receive
pictures this past weekend which showed the transition and the teacher in
class. We cannot wait to see him in action during our visit in November.
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| The original beach 'classroom' |
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| The new classroom |
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| The new classroom in action! |
"Hi
How are you. I hope you both are very well.
I’m writing this letter to thank you for the great help that you have
done .At first we started the English class on the beach with the help of
yours. Then I had to teach to the students who are really poor and innocent in
a hut which was on the beach .That hut was used by fishermen who live in the
area. So sometimes when I went there , their fishing nets and fish boxes were
everywhere .In that dilapidated hut we
could not bear the nauseous smell that comes from the decomposed fish remains
.At the end of a short and worst period we have been given a very nice class
room by you. Although I wanted to thank you at the same time ,since I was busy
with my students every day, I
couldn’t send you an email .I apologize for my delay.
As I explained you I had another problem
also. Since I didn’t have a way to show my students the international pronunciation
way , It was difficult to make them to understand what the foreigners are
telling. Then although they can express their ideas in English when they feel
it’s difficult to understand what they say , they are afraid to go ahead and
continue communication.
As you really know the pronunciation way of
Sri Lankans and the native speakers like you is different .Of course it is
because when we use a second language we have some effects of mother tongue.
I’ve seen it everywhere when I was in abroad.
I’m not trying to push my students to speak
like you. If we need so they should live in your society among native
speakers but I really need to improve them to understand what you say for that
I needed to show the way that native
speakers speak. As always you are here to help us as a blessing
from God you had sent money to buy a multi projector .You will see the
improvement when you come next time.
-
Ishan Gamage -
-
The English teacher –
-
Sri Lanka."
