I was taking a break from studying Swahili with Beth, Twyla, and our very patient Tanzanian friend Elipendo in the dining hall after class when I stepped out on the porch and saw my preform students running around the football (soccer) field. One of the other teachers, Julius, decided they needed some exercise. They were laughing and having a good time as they ran three laps and then did ‘helicopter arms’. He then had them play several active games like Red Rover (anybody remember that one?).
Julius is one of my favorite teachers here, and the students love him. He’s been building a model helicopter out of cardboard, a lot of tape, and other bits and pieces with the preform students, which they have proudly showed off to me whenever I’ve had class with them right after him. Most teachers tend toward lecture-style teaching and have the students spend a lot of time copying pages of notes off the board, so I’m glad to see such a hands-on lesson that really involves the kids who learn experientially rather than just visually. And when taking them out for some physical activity, he didn't just stand on the side and order them; he was running first, leading the pack.
Unfortunately, Julius’s last day with the school will be October 31st. He is a scientist who works for a research project near Mt Kilimanjaro, and he’s been splitting his time doing that four days and week and coming over (nearly a three-hour drive one way) three days a week to teach math and computer skills for us. So, he’s been working seven days a week, and he feels that his work is slipping in quality, so it’s time to get back on a more reasonable schedule so he can focus. I can’t blame him for that, but we’ll miss him here at the school.
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| Julius leading the way. |
Julius is one of my favorite teachers here, and the students love him. He’s been building a model helicopter out of cardboard, a lot of tape, and other bits and pieces with the preform students, which they have proudly showed off to me whenever I’ve had class with them right after him. Most teachers tend toward lecture-style teaching and have the students spend a lot of time copying pages of notes off the board, so I’m glad to see such a hands-on lesson that really involves the kids who learn experientially rather than just visually. And when taking them out for some physical activity, he didn't just stand on the side and order them; he was running first, leading the pack.
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| Radhia saw me watching and waved as they passed by. |
Unfortunately, Julius’s last day with the school will be October 31st. He is a scientist who works for a research project near Mt Kilimanjaro, and he’s been splitting his time doing that four days and week and coming over (nearly a three-hour drive one way) three days a week to teach math and computer skills for us. So, he’s been working seven days a week, and he feels that his work is slipping in quality, so it’s time to get back on a more reasonable schedule so he can focus. I can’t blame him for that, but we’ll miss him here at the school.
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