And teach the children well.

Another Saturday in Ukraine.  I have now completed 7 weeks of training and I only have 5 left.  These next 5 are bound to be super intense though! We are currently planning our community project and a summer camp that will both require a lot of dedication and hard work over the next few weeks.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we can get it all done!

One of the many things I have fallen in love with in Ukraine is teaching. I had done a little bit of teaching at my internship in college.  Of course that was at the Tuscaloosa County Jail and I was teaching anger management classes.  So teaching elementary and high school students was definitely a little different.  I have always loved working with kids, and so I was surprisingly not very nervous about having to teach them here in Ukraine.  I actually couldn't wait to start!

 As a youth development trainee, I am required to co-teach, along with another trainee, 7 lessons.  These lessons can either be in healthy lifestyles or in class hour (Class hour is one of the many different things about Ukraine.  Each grade, or form,  has a class hour in which their teacher is able to teach on any number of topics).  We are also required to co-teach with the English teacher.  These lessons require a lot of preparation since our language is not good enough (yet!) to teach without some notes.  Because of this, we have to come up with a lesson plan, plan the activities, and then get EVERYTHING translated.  It was tough at first, because I have never taught young students and I have definitely never taught in another language!  Luckily, I was able to work with one of my amazing group members, Becky, and we made quite a good teaching pair.  For the past 5 weeks, we have been teaching a 9th grade Healthy Lifestyles class.  I can't even put into words how fun it has been!   The students are all so smart and so funny.  They were so polite and so interested in our lessons.  Of course their were times when we had no clue what they were saying, but thanks to our wonderful tech. coordinator and her wonderful translating abilities, we made it through :)  I also got to teach the 10th formers in their Class hour class, and the 5th graders in their English class.  Of course, some classes went better than others, but overall I would have to say that I am very happy with how my lessons went.  

Teaching is just one of the many things that youth development volunteers do in Ukraine.  Some volunteers are placed in schools and others are placed in social services.  I have also heard about volunteers working with orphans and with the disabled.  I feel in my heart that I would be happy working in any of these different fields.  As of right now, I don't know where I'll be placed and what I'll be doing.  However, I feel that no matter what job and town I'm given, I will enjoy the work.  I can't wait to find out though!

This past Thursday, my group and I taught our last lessons at the school.  It was sad in a way, but it was so rewarding to hear how much our students have enjoyed having us!  Luckily, we will be working with several of them in our Summer Camp!

Here are some pictures of us with our classes :)

 Mine and Becky's 9th grade class

Our 10th graders