2019 English Boot Camp

By Laura Nott

This summer, we held our second annual English boot camp, a free opportunity for adults of all levels to come learn conversational English, practice with old and new friends, and get a taste of the PLH English classes. Over 150 students attended during the two weeks including current students and newcomers. Each day, the students learned a new English song to help them remember the material we studied that day. The second to last day, we challenged them with "Green Grass Grows All Around". Do you remember that song? "There's a bird in the nest on the branch on the tree from the seed in the hole in the middle of the ground!" They did great! Gerald and I had so much fun with the students. We loved watching the true beginners begin to speak in English and the more advanced learners help those around them learn.

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We dream of the day when PLH has our own education building with fully outfitted classrooms. For now, we are very grateful to local schools who offer use of their spaces and students who bring their portable speakers so we all can learn English songs together. Pictured: Designated DJ Jephte.

 
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Learning English is always more fun with good friends! Pictured: Guy, Sob, Dieunelson, Jephte, Valdens, Mendy, and Bowens.

English is a valuable job skill in Hait for nearly every field of work: hospitality, education, business, medicine, administration, translation, non-profit work, etc. So many are eager to learn, and we are excited to be able to offer six classes this year. We closed out the boot camp by reading the story of the Tortoise and the Hare, a new story to all of them. They loved the steady little tortoise and the over-confident hare. We encouraged them that like the tortoise, they can reach their goal by staying focused and taking it one step at a time. If you visit PLH, be sure to stop by the English classes to encourage the students and make them practice what they know!