It's an amazing experience

This afternoon, my essay was chosen to be discussed in free talk. I read my essay in front of my American teachers and some Chinese English teachers. I felt it's an amzing experience for me. I was lack of courage to talk with others before a group of English teachers, especially English
native speakers. But this afternoon I did it. I felt proud of myself. I learned a lot from writing the essay. Meanwhile I want to thank Adam and Greg for correcting my essay and make it much better than before. Therefore, the teachers in free talk can see a good essay written by me. I feel very happy to share my experience with my friends.
I still remember the first day in the camp. In Valerie's lesson, she asked us to introduce ourselves , choose one place to travel and choose one animal that we want to be. At that moment, I just had courage to talk in a small group. I dared not speak English in front of a large group of teachers. After that, I made my mind to be active in all the activities later in the camp. Day by day, I participated, spoke and shared my ideas with others. I had fun each day in the camp. I am surprised to find that I become so brave. I speak English more fluently and accurately. Much practice in the camp makes my spoken English better than before. This is an unforgetable and amazing experience in my life. Here, I want to thank all my American teachers for your help and professional teaching. Thank you for your hard work.

Free Talk

This is one of my free talk groups. In the morning I visit with two groups of teachers for an hour each. Free talk topics have become more challenging for non native English speakers. Emotions, feelings and parenting are a few of the topics we are discussing as our time in China comes to a close.

Chinese Teachers Rock!

I have had the distint pleasure of observing many Chinese teachers teaching their English lessons. They have worked very hard to create games, surveys, and songs to teach English to their students. Simply amazing!

Fun with the Fam!

Hi Friends,

In the evening, I've been able to have lots of fun with my host family. Amy invited her friend, Happy, over and we talked much of the night. It is great to make so many friends that I can keep in correspondance with when I return. It's so hard to believe we will return this weekend. Amy and Hopkins sent up MSN so we can talk with each other--the only problem will be the 12 hour time differene. But, it will be fun to keep talking.

Cross-cultural experiences!

Several Chinese teachers invited a few of our team to make dumplings at their home. It was a lot of fun to learn how to make Chinese food. But is was more fun eat! Shown pictured from the left is Petro (our host), Jeff, Charlie, Susan, Angel, Anna, and Greg.

Our Chinese hosts show us how to make dumplings.














Susan showed Susie how to make the perfect dumpling.

Lights, Camera, Action!!!

Preparations are under way for this Friday's Middle School puppet and music presentation. Yuki has just completed work on "Flier" the star of our show. Students are also preparing some great songs with lots of surprises.

American teachers watch, review and coach the Chinese teachers.

Jana reviews a sample lesson plan.










Adam talks with a teacher about ideas that will help her in the classroom.





Valerie offers a few tips about activities that will help students with their English.

The Chinese teachers continue working on new classroom ideas.

A walk to school . . .

Nancy, Jana and I have taken another route to school. Through the market. You can purchase just about anything.

Conversations

Before the trip, I told the American team to be prepared for long days of conversation. Most of our days last 14 hours or more. From morning until evening, we are engaged in conversations with teachers, students, administrators, shopkeepers, and local friends. It's fun, informative and tiring. All of the conversations are friendly and informative. Some are smooth and fluent. Some are full of pauses as we wait to allow ourselves or others to get the words just right. Some are guided. Some are spontaneous. Some are strategic for future opportunities. A growing number of conversations are meaningful and challenging. We are enjoying the chance to converse on so many levels with our Chinese friends.

HI, Susie: Good to hear that you have great time in China

Hi, Susie: Good to hear that you have great time in China.

Variations on a Theme

If I had to choose one word to describe my experiences here in China, I would choose the word "warm". Everything about Zhuhai English Camp is warm! Warm weather...what an understatement! Warm water...for drinking. Warm classrooms. Warm meals... But, I'm quite sure the warmest things we've experienced are the hearts of the Chinese friends we've made. Our hosts are kind and attentive, making sure we have all we need. They have made our home stays exciting and comfortable and provided interesting cultural experiences for us. Our new friends are sure to include us in conversations and make us feel welcome with every opportunity. The Chinese people are indeed warm.

Although I miss my family very much, I must say that the time is passing quickly. We have been so busy that there has been little time to be too lonely. Thank you to all of my new friends for making me feel so "warm" and welcome! Thank you to my host family for making your home such a special place to return to each evening.

Nancy here: The teachers are now teaching their lessons. They are doing a fantastic job! They have used different methods in their teaching plans that address different learning styles and intelligences. The students are enjoying learning English in this way. The picture above is of Sally who is my hosts' daughter. She is celebrating her 9th birthday with friends. We played games, sang karaoke, and ate ice cream and cake. My host family is very kind and are taking very good care of me. I am very grateful for them! It will be difficult to say good-bye to all of our new Chinese friends at the end of the week.

Charlie's host writes a note . . .

My name is David. I'm in Grade 4. My favorite food is chicken, because it's very nice. My favorite color is blue, because the sky is blue. I like playing badminton and basketball. I like computer very much. I often play computer games on weekends.

Last week. I went to the English camp. I made friends with American teachers and my classmates. They are very friendly. I often talked with them. I like the American teachers, because their teaching is very fun. I walked to school with Charlie, Nancy and Jana every morning. I learned a lot from them.

I like English. I like the English camp.

Jeff Sherlock leaves for America

Because my son is getting married on 1 August, I had to leave the camp one week early. I am joyful about the marriage of my son, Jonathan, and his fiance, Leslie, but of course I am sad to leave the camp.

I have truly enjoyed my time working with the teachers and students of the Zhuhai schools. You have all worked very hard and have been so friendly to me and the rest of the "orange shirt" team. I will miss you very much, but hope to see you in the future - perhaps next summer.

Thanks to everyone who gave me gifts or gave gifts to my son and his wife. Because of your generosity, you were able to share with our family in our joy. When he is married, I will try to post some pictures to this blog.

I hope your final week of camp goes very well.

how come i got up at 6 am

Yesterday night i came back to my dorm in Tangjia, which is TWO HOURS bus drive from our summer camp! I fell asleep happily as i've chosen sth in Gongbei for my dear friends .

I thought I would have a good sleep after 2 weeks hard working getting early in the morning and working a whole day.HOWEVER, I woke up at 6:00 this morning, even earlier than the days before!!!How come! I intended to stay in the bed at least till 11 o'clock.

Well, how can I spend so much time?You may be surprised as I've spent a whole hour listening to nearly a hundred songs, hoping to find some that can be applied to the lessons next week.

Now I have to get down to working, and I will come back soon. See you later

The English Camp Weekly News

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Cute Puppets, Cute Students

It's hard to tell which is "cutest", the puppet Betty made, or Betty. Both are pretty sweet! Our puppets are simple sock puppets but provide the children a tremendous opportunity to practice English by making their puppets speak. This afternoon we look forward to hearing the children sing and perform. They have all worked very hard.

A new experience in class

This morning, I gave students a spoken English class. With the help of my instructor, Adam and my teammates, I completed my lesson successfully. I thanked them for their help and instructions. I learned a lot from the preparation to the assenment after the class. I also thanked my new students in Room Three of Primary School for their cooperation. In the course of preparing for my lesson plan, Adam gave me some useful suggestions and help me improve my lesson plan. His suggestions let me focus on the participation in activities of each students in class and his assement had us understand how to carry out Practice 3 in class meanwhile he also gave me helpful advice on how to make some details better. Adam is a smart and sharp instructor. By the way, I am proud of myself for I am brave enough to draw pictures and sing an English song written by myself in public for the first time. What I did in this lesson is a new try in my teaching. I think it's also a new experience for me. I 'd like to keep trying and enjoy the fun of teaching English.
As we know, Jeff A will depart for America this Saturday. May you have a good journey back to your motherland. I also congratulate you for your son's marriage. Thank you for your wonderful free talk and I enjoy talking with you and share my ideas with you. Thank you for your hard work.

Thank you very much

Hello,everyone. It's very hot outside and inside. Please keep yourself cool.But our foreign teacher still work very hard. Thank you very much. We are not just learn what you have taught us, but also what you did for us.

Chinese teachers present their lesson plans for review

Jana works on an evaluation.

















Valerie and Chinese teachers observe a class.

















Adam makes a note about the lesson.

















Nancy reacts to a funny moment in the class.

Music and motion

Jill leads a song before our “free talk” time with teachers. Here is Greg helping with “Tideo.”

Jing Tai Temple

Last evening some of our hosts and fellow teachers invited us to make a visit to the Jing Tai Temple and later enjoy supper in the country. Jeff Sherlock, Charlie Chapman, Greg Sweetland and I were impressed with the architecture, tradition and devotion we observed at the temple. We also enjoyed the wonderful meal we shared on the lakeshore. Thank you for making us feel so welcome!

Thank you for all Americans in the camp

Hi,I'm Abby from Primary7.This is my first time to come here,It's comfortable and happy here.Thank you,Jeff S----Because YOU made this blog for us to exchange the camp life experience and enjoy the sweet pictures together,YOU invited me to join the blog family,YOU host the successful free talk not only in the morning but also in the afternoon.Good luck to your trip back home.By the way,Congratulations to your son's marriage.I watched SUSIE'S ,ADAM'S and NANCY'S model lessons and learnt a lot from them.Thank you for all Americans whom I learnt a lot from. the camp is off and going now,and I believe it will gain success in the end.

Thank You He Family!

I have had a great experience with my host family. They have oriented me to much of the Chinese culture, and I am so grateful. This experience has broadened my perspective of the world. Thank you, Hopkins, Jenny, and Amy. Amy is participating as a student in the middle school camp. It is great to talk about our experiences this week! Here is a great family picture of the He Family.

Teaching Chinese students!

Today was my last day to teach my Chinese students. I found this experience to be very rewarding, challenging, and fun. Yesterday, I taught my students how to invite someone to do an activity with a friend. I wrote a song, "Do You Want To", to the tune of "O My Darling Clementine." We sang the song as a practice. We then did another activity to practice in a different way. As we practiced the forms, they insisted on singing the phrases, "Do You Want To, Would You Like To, and I Was Wondering. I finally asked the students, would you sing an invitation to a friend to play basketball? They all laughed! ;)-

We no longer sing our invitations now!

A nice walk

Last evening the team dined at a restaurant in downtown Doumen. Following the meal, in typical Chinese fashion, we went for a walk. Along our way to the river for our walk we met some new friends.

Music and Puppets

During the afternoons Jill and I have been having lots of fun making puppets and teaching the middle school kids new songs. We've been very pleased with their singing ability and look forward to their performance on Friday afternoon. We have a lot of work left too do!

Nancy works with a teacher on her lesson plan.

Students work on their story

This group of students are typing their story into the computer. Along with the interviews, students have taken photos for their stories.

Writing for the paper

A couple of students work on their story for our newspaper. Everything has to be done in English. The paper will be printed and distributed on Friday.

Luke talks with students

One activity in our middle school English Camp is to produce a camp newspaper. Here are students interviewing Luke for our paper.

Nice walk to school

Nancy, Jana and I are living with host families in the same housing complex. The school is very close so we meet in the morning to walk to school. Along the way is the “Manmade” lake. China’s beauty can be found everywhere. If you click on the photo and look closely on the plaza, you can see people doing their morning exercises.

Breakfast chats . . .

Jeff talks with a couple of middle school students during breakfast.

Lunch at the English Camp

Now that the students are here and the English camp is in full swing, opportunities for visiting are abundant. Jill and Shalauna draw a crowd during lunch.

be a member in the blog at last

HI, thanks for JEFF's invitation in my e-mail.I got a chance to be a member in this camp. We have been togther for more than a week, I make new friends here, especially, I learned a lot from the American friends and other teachers. Everyday I have a lot of fun and I JUST find that the time goes too fast. Yeaterday moring , I wacthed Nathan to have a model lesson , this morning, I watched JANA . Both of them gave me good lessons . From the students' behavior, I can predict that the students enjoy the lessons. I would like to say thanks to all the Americans.

Welcome to Doumen

Today we meet another American trainers. Jeff A introduces them to all the Chinese teachers in free talk. We are glad to meet them and we want to say to them " Welcome to Doumen and our training program. This morning our trainer gives us model lessons with different language function. In the course, as one of the observers, I very appreciate what our trainers did. I learn how to instruct our students and help them attend classroom activities effeciently. As free talk in the morning, I wonder whether we have a chance to communicate with different trainers. If that is OK, we are so lucky to know another 7 new trainers and know more about them. It also provides us more opportunities to communicate with our trainers. We can have more topics to talk about. We are also curious about their unique experience and their jobs.