OUR SECOND WEEK BEGINS

 
 Our team is "swinging" into week two in Monopoli. We start the week with Lisa not only reading the daily journal but also the thought for the day...well done Lisa.

Michael and Jeri step back for the morning and enjoy well deserved downtime...as they say. Phyllis T, Phyllis G, Lisa and I climb into the van for our daily drive to school. Phyllis T and I have a brief and busy morning at school. Phyllis G and Lisa will spend the day with various teachers and join us at lunch. Jan is dedicated and delightful as ever waits for her morning students to arrive for their English lessons.
As lunch time approaches we once again meet in the main square to head off for lunch at a local beach front restaurant.

It is the divide and conquer day - Jan returns to the hotel to meet her afternoon students. The rest of the group strolls the town but will eventually return for afternoon appointments or to address personal matters. 

We end the day with our team meeting and dinner! A visit from Rita and Ali...and Michael and Lisa "tripping the light fantastic"...Phyllis T just "tripping"!!

OUR WEEKEND IN PUGLIA

            Saturday and Sunday - Travel Days 

 

On Saturday, the team traveled to Ostuni for the market, where we each came up with some goods; to Cisternino for a photo opportunity; Alberobello to see the Trulli; and to stroll around the town.  Throughout the day, we kept an eye on each other, watching as we shopped, learning the ways how a team is made up of a group of individuals.

On Sunday, Phyllis G, Grace and Jeri traveled by train to Bari for a day of strolling and they even ran into Pilar.  Phyllis T spent the day with an old friend in Ostuni, while Michael, Lisa, and Jan stayed in Monopoli for a relaxing day.  Dinner was shared talking about the weekend, and relaxing before another busy week was to begin!

A Puglian Trullo

 Oh - Did We Mention The Food!

OUR FIRST WEEK IS OVER - PICNIC TIME & THEN THE WEEKEND!

 

Friday was a day in the classroom.  We each taught what we know and there was even a history lesson! After teaching at the high school, the team had a relaxing picnic by the poolside.             
 

There were the makings of delicious antipasti, with cheeses, salamis, olives and more. We toasted to Pilar, as it was her last day with us.  In this short period of less than one week, we came to know her independent ways and her cheerfulness that was spread as she giggled. The meal was concluded with a peach torta and cookies from the local bakery, and some music and dancing. As the afternoon faded, we all went our separate ways.

              

IT'S THURSDAY - 'GIOVEDI' IN ITALIANO

Is it only Thursday?   Each of us is building our own student 'clientele,' people of all ages with varying English competency. Conversation, discussion, information sharing - all are means to develop the students' English language and enhance our own appreciation of the richness of Italy, Puglia and the true Monopolitani.

Some students are business professionals and they continue to impress us with their dedication and enthusiasm.  They have their own reasons for wanting to learn English: 

• to "go out into the world," 
• to assist their professional ambitions and travel aspirations or
•  to understand the relationship between English and Italian language and their Latin origins. Regardless, we agree the common purpose is to communicate effectively. 

 There is a labor of love requiring genuine commitment to reach their desired outcome.  The learning of a new language places physical demands on the teacher as much as students.

So we pace our lessons accordingly. But the students lead the lessons and the teacher becomes facilitator. For me this is very satisfying and validates my own commitment to support and encourage my protégée.

WE ARE AT MID WEEK & SO FAR - SO GOOD!

 

 Now we know the drill: wake up, breakfast, out & into the van, for a sometimes hair-raising ride. We arrive with the students and immediately seek out Rita. She appears unaffected by  starting school in a building still being constructed - while at the same time, three schools are being merged into one.   Brava!

Today was a day to get down to business. By now, we know the personalities of the teachers and of the students - who is unafraid to speak and who hangs back. 

 

What works  best ?

• For Michael, it was the beautiful calligraphy of his students' names - mementos  the students appear to appreciate.
• For Lisa, it was a deck of cards with each card asking a specific question. 
• For Grace, it was food, what to eat for breakfast. 
• For Phyllis, it was talking about movies, music and food. 
• For Pilar, it was manners and their importance in daily life.
• For Jan, it is busy all day with different students who have individual needs. With her calm demeanor, she goes with the flow and talks about her students with enthusiasm. 
• For Jeri and her tutee, it was a hotel employee who wants to look for a better job with more opportunities. Who better to guide her but a successful corporate woman.

All these personalities, all these talents, all these shared materials, all have the desire to make a small difference.  Yes, they have helped the team grow closer - maybe the wine has also helped!

We wish all of our students "Buona Fortuna."

Team Monopoli - A United Effort

 

WE LIKE THEM THEY LIKE US IT'S A MATCH

The day started with our team breakfast, journal reading and "thought for the day."
Jeri's journal of Monday's events was "spot on" as the Brit's say. Pilar offered several "thoughts for the day" and let the team select the most appropriate one. Yeats' thoughts on education was the winner.
 

Then we "hit the ground running, but our drive to school took a lot longer.  Tuesday is "Market Day" in Monopoli and since the market is close to our hotel, we encounter much congestion.  Rita met us at school with her warm smile and calm Italian way in sharp contrast to the "hustle and bustle" of the school day that surrounded us.
 

Today we were "truly a the divided team". Pilar, Lisa and I joined Rita for morning classes. Michael, Jeri and Phyllis headed for the "great outdoors" on a class field with another group of teachers.

Within the next 3 hours, "Team Rita" met with 3 different classes. I have forgotten the energy level of teenagers, and this made each class quite unique. Finally, saved by the bell, Rita rescued my team and the hikers returned. 

The field trip, which included an encounter with a donkey, left us a bit weary and  bedraggled, but we returned to school and finished our classroom activities

This isn't our donkey, it's Dominick!

Once again a "team divided", three of us headed off to the market with Rita and 3 finished the day at school.

Stopping for a Rest on the way to
Caffe Napoli

For lunch - il pranzo -  we met at Caffe Napoli for a pannino (sandwich). After lunch we once again parted our waits weather "off to a siesta" or a relaxing walk. We closed our day with a team meeting, a delicious meal and friendly chatter.

DAY ONE IN OUR ITALIAN SCHOOL

 Here We Are - Ready to Teach Conversational English

Team 181 with host teacher, Rita

Team 181 - seven eager volunteers arose bright and early to meet our host teacher, Rita. Two of the Italian high schools have just consolidated into one very large American type high school with about 1,000 students in grades 9-12. What triumph and sense of pride the teachers must have for accomplishing such a monumental task.  Now three schools exist under one roof - Linguistics, Classics and Scientific schools. 

Volunteers with 4th Year Students

Rita, our host teacher paired the volunteers with a teacher, as well as, herself.  The consolidation is  still underway and Rita had to find her way around a new school; find a new classroom; and, she managed all the tasks quite admirably.
  

Volunteers Preparing for Class

As flexible, experienced volunteers,  we rolled with the flow; danced to the tune; and did not miss a beat. Several volunteers are Italian-American are popular with the students. We all noticed how polite and respectful students were to teachers and volunteers. Once all was settled down, they were eager to learn about life in America.

One volunteer continued a tutoring relationship with several adult students from last year. In the afternoon we make ourselves available for tutoring at the hotel and it appears the word has spread, because, by dinner all volunteers had tutoring assignments.  It appears we a popular commodity and will be very busy during the next two weeks.

Volunteer with Returning Adult Student

At the evening team meeting everyone shared experiences and teaching resources they brought with them.  After dinner everyone dispersed to prepare for our second day of teaching.