YSEL Camp

What’s the best part of summertime? Nope, it’s not the beach, ice cream on a hot day, or sundresses. It’s summer camp! I already had the opportunity to direct a one-week girls’ leadership camp in my region (see previous post), but it didn’t stop there for me. Now I’m an English teacher at Ethiopia’s first YSEL camp.

YSEL stands for Youth Solidarity and English Language. It’s run by American Councils (an American NGO involved in international English education and student exchange programs) and funded by the US Embassy in Ethiopia.  The dual purpose of this camp is to teach English and to build solidarity among high school students from all nine regions of Ethiopia. From the whole country, 44 outstanding students were selected for this month-long camp. Some come from wealthy families and attend private schools, while others live alone and support themselves, putting themselves through high school. They are Protestant, Orthodox Christian, and Muslim. Since it’s Ramadan, some of them are keeping up with the demanding camp schedule while fasting. They’re all very proud of their regions, but they’re loving this opportunity to learn about each other’s cultures and celebrate what they all have in common: being Ethiopian.

They asked for PCVs to volunteer as the English teachers, and I jumped at the chance. Now here I am, one week into my two week shift, totally inspired by my students. They’re the best and brightest, and they’re so eager to learn. I teach four classes a day: homeroom, reading, and academic writing.

 I have 11 students in my homeroom class, twice a day. In the mornings I’m teaching them essay writing in the ways that are required for the TOEFL exam and admission essays (so they can apply to colleges abroad), but in the afternoons we cut loose! Together we’ve written mystery stories, performed them as dramas, played an enormous game of charades + catchphrase, and watched a TED talk on sustainable peace and discussed the complexities involved in achieving world peace. This weekend they’re writing a conversation between them and a world-famous hero.

One of my wonderful homeroom students on crazy hat day.

My reading class is a lower level, and we’re just finishing our first book, Bridge to Terabithia. We’re going to try to squeeze in a second, smaller book this last week, called Seedfolks, by Paul Fleischman. It’s about an urban, community garden in Cleveland that slowly attracts people from all walks of life and multiple ethnicities and cultural backgrounds, and they bond over their common gardening space. It fits in nicely with the theme of the camp, so it should be fun to read and discuss. For some of these students, Terabithia was the first novel they’ve ever read in English, so it’s a privilege to be able to share with them the joy of reading stories.

Without supporting evidence, all you have is two lousy pieces of bread. 

In academic writing I’m using a tried and true curriculum that YSEL developed for teaching TEFL students how to write a persuasive essay in six days. Sure enough, the students I taught last week are successfully producing essays that follow the classic five-paragraph structure. It’s a skill that, if they end up studying abroad, will be an essential part of their academic toolbox.

Student artwork on display as part of our weekly talent show.

 Gee, you say, is this summer camp or summer school? Don’t you let these kids have any fun? An excellent question, dear reader. In fact, we have club time after lunch, when last week the students could choose between karate, computer class, theater, aerobics, and poetry. Evening activities include weekly talent shows (where yours truly performed a Bollywood dance courtesy of my college days, to the campers’ delight), debates, movie night, a public speaking competition, and next week, a geography bee. Now you’re wondering if we ever sleep, right? A little bit, but who needs sleep when you get to be part of a camp like this?

Yeah, that's right, I'm holding plates of brownies and peanut butter cookies. Icing on the cake!