So me and some friends went out to a club called the Purple Turtle last weekend for a night of drinks, dj's, and dancing. My roomate Colleen promptly challenged me to a Krumping competition in the middle of the club. This is, I feel, what we thought we looked like.
This is what we actually looked like.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Speak Loud and Clear
The World Schools Debating Championship is an annual English speaking international debate competition for students going to non-university schools. A vast majority of participants are high school aged learners. A little more information about the actual competition can be found here and here.
Why do I care about this? Well other than the fact that debate is a highly technical and useful skill to have, and the art of debate is quite fascinating, I am afraid my reason for writing about it is a little bit more selfish. This past Monday, Fezeka High School and EwB were privileged to host a delegation of debaters from four different countries as part of the international competition. These students are the best their respective countries have to offer. Since they choose individuals and not school debate teams, you could say that they are the all-star team of their countries when it comes to debate.
Coming to Fezeka were debaters from Hong Kong, Romania, Philippines, and Bermuda. All the organizers asked from us were three simple things.
1) Make ready four classrooms for preparation, with two of those classrooms set up as debate areas.
2) Have a 30 minute "Welcoming" prepared for the debaters.
3) Try to procure some sort of an audience of learners for the debates themselves.
Well classroom prep was a cinch, and if you follow this blog at all you know the reputation of Fezeka welcomes (I was told by one of the judges that the choir "Sent chills down her spine" and that the welcome "was quite possibly the best of any school hosting"). However, it is this last item that I want to touch on quickly.
One of the things that we at EwB have tried to instill in our learners is confidence when speaking English. It is not always easy. We have started to lean towards using debates as a way to get them to speak English in front of groups of people and to also use critical thinking skills in forming their arguments. It covers facets that they need help in. In this visit was an opportunity for our learners to see the pros in action, and they were hooked. On top of learning from the actual debaters, the judges were kind enough to run a workshop for our learners while the debate teams were preparing their arguments. Not only was it a great learning experience for them on a purely academic level, but socially they found their curiosity about these debaters and judges to much. Every time I turned around, there were learners crowding around debaters, coaches and judges asking questions. How did you learn to speak English so well? Why did you argue that? Is it hot in Bermuda? What countries border Romania? What kind of phone is that?
As you can see, the conversations started out in a more serious nature and quickly became more familiar. It ended exactly how we wanted. They came together as students, they left as friends. It could not have been a more successful day.
Why do I care about this? Well other than the fact that debate is a highly technical and useful skill to have, and the art of debate is quite fascinating, I am afraid my reason for writing about it is a little bit more selfish. This past Monday, Fezeka High School and EwB were privileged to host a delegation of debaters from four different countries as part of the international competition. These students are the best their respective countries have to offer. Since they choose individuals and not school debate teams, you could say that they are the all-star team of their countries when it comes to debate.
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| Lusanda Ngqose Welcoming The Teams |
Coming to Fezeka were debaters from Hong Kong, Romania, Philippines, and Bermuda. All the organizers asked from us were three simple things.
1) Make ready four classrooms for preparation, with two of those classrooms set up as debate areas.
2) Have a 30 minute "Welcoming" prepared for the debaters.
3) Try to procure some sort of an audience of learners for the debates themselves.
Well classroom prep was a cinch, and if you follow this blog at all you know the reputation of Fezeka welcomes (I was told by one of the judges that the choir "Sent chills down her spine" and that the welcome "was quite possibly the best of any school hosting"). However, it is this last item that I want to touch on quickly.
One of the things that we at EwB have tried to instill in our learners is confidence when speaking English. It is not always easy. We have started to lean towards using debates as a way to get them to speak English in front of groups of people and to also use critical thinking skills in forming their arguments. It covers facets that they need help in. In this visit was an opportunity for our learners to see the pros in action, and they were hooked. On top of learning from the actual debaters, the judges were kind enough to run a workshop for our learners while the debate teams were preparing their arguments. Not only was it a great learning experience for them on a purely academic level, but socially they found their curiosity about these debaters and judges to much. Every time I turned around, there were learners crowding around debaters, coaches and judges asking questions. How did you learn to speak English so well? Why did you argue that? Is it hot in Bermuda? What countries border Romania? What kind of phone is that?
 |
| Judges Giving A Workshop To The Learners |
As you can see, the conversations started out in a more serious nature and quickly became more familiar. It ended exactly how we wanted. They came together as students, they left as friends. It could not have been a more successful day.
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Education’s purpose is to replace an empty mind with an open one.
It is that time of the year again. Time for teachers to write their lesson plans and get their classrooms ready. Time for the administration to create time tables and endure a never ending amount of meetings. Time for learners to wash and polish their school uniforms and follow their feet back to school. Last but not least, it’s time for us here at EwB to get back to work at hand. This past week was the first few days back at school and was a generally exciting time. The Fezeka administration and teachers were a positive combination of still being on a high from the matriculation results from the previous year (over 70%) and coming back to school well rested and excited for the new year. The learners, especially those in the program, were looking forward to continuing their academic achievement and progress through this year. When stepping on campus, Vimbai and I were bombarded with hope and genuine excitement from all parties. Learners in the program were rushing to tell us about how they received code 5,6 or 7 on their final exams and wondering when the tutoring would start again. Others were rushing to Angeline to ask when they could come help out or hang out in the library.
What this means is that we as an organization have started to put the pieces together in the first, but important, step. That being fostering a communal sense of academic achievement. You cannot teach someone that does not want to be taught. You need to help instill a desire to succeed. Fezeka, especially the learners within our program, have started to create this communal desire to succeed academically. They hang out together, they study together, they are all in the same classes (pure maths and physics for most!) and they cannot wait to continue their successful progress. The light seems to have switched on with these kids. It’s nice to be pestered with “When is the program going to start again Courtney?” instead of the excuses “I don’t think I can go today because I have chores” or “I don’t feel so well” that crops up occasionally. Its palpable excitement, and a great way to start the year.
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| Fezeka Teachers |
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