EVS in Pomiechówek

Pomiech ów ek is a small town. There are not a lot of foreigners who come to this city, except the volunteers of the library and cultural center. So when Anna and I arrived in September, we became the representatives of our countries, Austria and France (and we still are, until the new volunteers come!). And as good representatives, we made presentations on France and Austria, to allow people to discover or better know about it. We both went to the primary school to present in English what our countries are famous for: food, people, sport, landscapes, arts, etc. 3 times, classes listened to us carefully. Some students had questions, which were very interesting, but most of them were shy, or we didn’t have time to have a real conversation… Too bad ... Anyway, a few weeks later, and a few times after, I went to the high school to present France, this time in French, linked with the French lessons and teachers (who translated into Polish what I said)! Without exaggerating, ...

Every week, I go to the kindergarten of the town. Every week, I see the same children sitting on the rug of the classroom, eagerly waiting for my story. Every week, I read a new story in English, for them. I read a page in English, then the teacher translates in Polish. The kids don’t understand everything I say, of course, but at the end of the story we repeat the main vocabulary together, and they remember quite a lot! Twice a month, I go to a different class in the primary school of the town. Twice a month, I see the same children sitting on the rug of the classroom, eagerly waiting for my story, shouting “Bonjour!” as I arrive! Twice a month, I read a new story, for them. The teachers don’t translate everything, but it doesn’t matter, the kids know the story and they have the illustrations to understand what happens. Then we repeat the main vocabulary in English, and they try to teach it to me in Polish… As they are older than in the kindergarten, they...