Volunteer in Brazil: The Blog

We had our last lesson today with the students. With class P, we did a generall recap over what they had learnt with us, and Joe & Polly. With classes M & G we did some more work on adjectives, following on from the previous lesson, and then had a recap of their English skills. We created lots of worksheets for them to complete, as we have found that this method keeps them focused for longer.

At the end of the lessons we said our goodbyes ect. It was quite sad, as although we have not been here very long, we soon built lots of friendships. All the students are very interested in our lives, and like to get to know others. So it was sad to have to leave.

We will go to the project again tomorrow to help set up for their festival on Saturday. Unfortunately we fly in the morning, so we will miss the party. However it has been fun helping to make the decorations, and going shopping with Beth.

This will most probably be our last blog entry. For anyone who is thinking about coming to the project, we would like to say that we have had an amzing time, and most definately recomend it. We wish we could have stayed longer. The project is such a worth while cause, we didnt realise how important it is to the children and their futures until we arrived and saw the awsome work it does, so please do support it !!

Thanks for everyone who has supported us and made this trip possible.

Bye !!

We had our second lesson yesterday with the kids. We went through time, and how the English say it (10 past 2, 10 to 3) The English way is very different to the Brazilian way, so it was hard for the kids to grasp, but I think we managed it.

From the lesson, we learnt that the kids like to do worksheets and display work instead of copying from the blackboard. These also keep the kids quiet as they do them individually.

After class we had our first Portugese lesson with Wellington and Fabiana. We learnt a lot, and we think they will really help with our Portugese.

In the evening Beth and Bia took us out to a bar in Santa Teresa for a few drinks and to walk around; it was really nice.

Thats all for now.

Bye !!

Hi everyone.

Unfortunatly our first post wasnt posted for some reason. Anyway, we arrived on Thursday on a flight that was slightly delayed; to say the least. Beth, Joe and Polly met us at the airport in Rio, which was really nice. They were very welcoming. On the friday, Joe took us to the local shopping square where we had a look around. In the afternoon we went to the project and met all the kids, which was brilliant. The kids were very sad to say bye to Joe and Polly, but were very excited to meet their new English teachers; Me and Rod.

At the weekened, Beth was really kind and took us out to various places, where we had a chance to get a feel for life in Rio and the project. (If you come to the project, ask Beth to take you to the Pizza house….Chocolate Pizzas! )

On Sunday me and Rod ventured to Copacobana, which was amazing! We also went to Ipanema, and to a hippie market there, where we saw and bought some really cool things.

On Monday we went down to the project to see the kids again and get a feel for what the project is all about. Monica, Wellington and Fabia who look after the children at the project are great and really helpful.

On Tuesday we taught for the first time. We were a little nervous first, but the kids are very enthusiastic and eager to learn; so there wasnt any problem. They are a lot more advanced in English than we thought, so we had to tweak the lesson. Class G especially.

Today (Wednesday), we went down to the project at 8am, to help Monica have a “spring clean”. It was hard work but fun. We rewarded ourselves with a dip in the swimming pool, which the nuns found amusing as they think its cold over here, but 26 degrees isnt cold for us! 

When we went down to the project Wellington took us into the centre of Rio, to a Goverment agency that provides the project with monthly food donations. When we came back we spent some more time wih the kids, and then once all the kids had left, we had our first English lesson with the monitors; Wellington and Fabia.

Thats all for now, we have a lesson tomorow (Thursday) with the kids, and a portugese lesson with the monitors after that.  We will blog again asap.

 Bye!