A long time ago, in a blog post from last July, I asked for
contributions to a grant project for my school. Lo and behold, the project was
officially complete in April, and I have the photos the prove it. A huge thanks
goes to all those who donated. This would not have been possible without your
thoughtful contributions!
 |
| Caleb and I presenting at 2nd School's Foreign Language Teaching Methods Day in the English Room |
Since acquiring the grant items around October – December,
the new English room has been used for numerous activities for students and teachers
alike, including a province-wide foreign language teachers’ teaching
methodologies day, reading and speaking clubs for students, intensive
preparation courses for the larger academic exams like the academic Olympiad
and final concourse exams, meetings for English lessons for the school’s
English teachers, a few regularly school scheduled English classes, and the
school’s very first English movie club.
 |
| New curtains, chairs, and teacher's desk |
The funds from the grant supplied the English room with a
customized bookcase, new flooring, curtains, a stereo system, a TV, a printer
and ink, a teacher’s chair and desk, several chairs, and varying other
equipment like a power strip, extension cords, etc.
 |
| The custom bookcase with all the doors open |
The biggest item through the grant was the bookshelf. It was
about one million tugriks (about $500) altogether, and some of the school
workers built it for the room. It holds all the books we have and has plenty of
space for more. There are two chalkboards in the room now, one more than before
(the second was donated from the school), and they are part of the bookcase.
The magical part is that the chalkboards are set in runners, so they slide open
to reveal more bookshelves and the TV!
 |
| Ayyy Macarena! |
The stereo is the item that I have personally used the most.
Starting in the second semester of this last school year, Caleb and I hosted a
ballroom dancing class open to all teachers and students 5th grade
and up. The teachers were too shy to attend with students there, so it quickly
became all about the students, which was great! Ballroom dancing eventually
transformed into line dancing, which we moved from the gym into the English
room. There was strong student participation and enjoyment through the rest of
the school year.
 |
| Students and one of my CPs installing the new flooring (That little bookcase and one more of the same size was all there was before!) |
 |
| New and old flooring |
While the grant money didn’t fund any new books, I found a
couple organizations that donate books to libraries like this one. We received
over 150 books from a donation through the American Center for Mongolian Studies in their partnership program with Asia Foundation called Books for Mongolia.
We also received a big box of books from Darien Book Aid. They have a program
that donates books to schools all over the world who have Peace Corps
Volunteers working there. Caleb’s parents also sent us some great books to
donate to the English room. Our English room now has around 500 books, which are
level appropriate and interesting for varying ages.
 |
| 4th grade students checking out the new Darien Aid books with my CP |
While I was unable to establish a lending
system in the last few months, I hope this is something the next PCV can accomplish. It looks pretty hopeful
that my school will get another volunteer, and I hope they will continue to
build up the English room over the coming years. Thanks again to all who
supported our new English room!
Sally
 |
| Last time in the English Room |
No comments:
Post a Comment