Reading in schools
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 are
more able to ask me questions in English (very simple ones), and they
want to know more about me and my native country. How do you say
“hello” in French? Do you have siblings? Do you have a dog? How
do you say my name in French? And in English? Do you remember my
name? How are you?
I think the children and me are all quite frustrated
not to understand each other without the teachers: I don’t
understand their questions in Polish, I’m not yet able to answer in
Polish when I understand, and they don’t understand my answers in
English…
So here is my motivation to seriously make progress
in Polish: being able to talk with the kids!
Because twice a month, I leave the school amazed how
willing and enthusiast they are to learn a new language and a new
culture!
