Laughter and Tears with Rural Kids:
My experience in the VLSP service trip to Guangning
This summer, I joined the Voluntary Language Service Programme organized by PolyU English Club. After hours of traveling on a narrow and bumpy country road, finally, we reached our destination. We were in Shizui, Guangning County, where a bunch of local primary school kids were waiting curiously to see what these “big brothers and sisters” have to offer. Well, we didn’t come unprepared: as voluntary English teachers, we brought books and gifts for every kid, more importantly, we designed games and activities to make the learning experience fun and exciting.
On the first day, however, the kids gave us a big surprise. I stood embarrassed in front of the blackboard when they enthusiastically shouted out the words we prepared to teach them even before the teaching began. After making urgent adjustments, we were able to find some new material for the kids to learn. It paid to see some kids finally remember how to say “half past two” after we had been drilling them again and again.
When the bell rang, the kids were all alive again. They dragged us to the playground where we played “Old Wolf”, “The eagle and the chicks” and loads of other games together. We ran we shouted and we laughed. When it was time to say goodbye, many kids cried. So did some of us. I knew I would never forget the lovely kids and the wonderful time we had together.
Erica Shen
 |
 |
 |
Voluntary Language Service Programme: A Wonderful Experience
The VLSP (Voluntary Language Service Programme) is held by the English Club every year and tries to make English teaching interesting and fun for students in rural areas in mainland China. As one of the people who wrote the Student Worksheet and the Teaching Book, I together with Erica, thought of many kinds of activities including games and inter-group competitions such as color benching and word guessing. We made the basic words and sentences into an activity so it became easier and more interesting for the kids to learn.
I was also one of the participants of this trip. Although we only taught them for 3 days, it was so charming that we have a great memory. Every night before teaching, each group gathered to discuss the content to teach the next day. We sang English songs and played games with the primary school students. They shouted and they sang aloud. The classroom was like an ocean of laughter. When they got excited, it was a little difficult to control them because they were really passionate and very clever!
All the participants became a big family after the trip. We have a Facebook group and we have had several reunions.
It was a trip with blue sky, white floating clouds and bright sunshine. It was a trip with curious children and passionate brothers and sisters. It’s a memory that will never fade.
Fangerous Fan
The VSLP is organized by the ELC’s English Club. To find out more about the club and it’s activities, please click here.
Film Review by PIFS: 50 First Dates
Starring Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore, this film replicates the pair’s chemistry in 1988’s “The Wedding Singer”. The story starts off with a regular first meeting between Henry (Sandler) and Lucy (Barrymore) in a café. They decide to meet up again, but Lucy claims not to know Henry. He later finds out how she suffered a head injury in a car crash on her father’s birthday and has experienced short-term memory loss ever since. She is unable to recall anything that has happened since the accident.
Henry is smitten, and he challenges himself to win over her everyday. Discouraged by Lucy’s father and brother, who enact the activities to prevent her from knowing, Henry does not give up and persuades them that hiding the truth is actually hurting her. She can never move on. They are moved by his determination and help him by leaving video tapes explaining her condition and relationship with Henry, and Lucy slowly begins to reciprocate his feelings.
50 First Dates is a sweet, romantic comedy filled with the perfect sentiments of genuine romance. A must watch!
Lisa Fong, PIFS IVP
The PolyU International Film Society is now recruiting new members
Memberships is FREE of Charge
so don't miss this golden opportunity - come and join us!!
- Members of PIFS will enjoy a number of privileges:
- They have the chance to redeem movie preview tickets, ticket exchange coupons, posters and souvenirs of the latest movies,
- They may borrow the latest DVDs and VCDs in CILL, and
- They can joining our functions and events (O'Night, movie screenings, meeting with directors, actors, actresses...)
Registration:
Date: Sept 6-10, 2010 (Mon-Fri)
Venue: VA (Outside of 7-11)
Time: 1100- 1900
Film Screenings in September |
|
| Slumdog Millionaire September 22nd 2010 (Wed) N003 |
Trainspotting |
