23 May 05
Three to four years ago, I worked as an English-speaker in an after school institution for a bilingual school. The school is located at the back of the Vienna International Center, most of the kids' parents work there.
The job includes childcare in some degree. I am to speak English with the kids, back then was good because I do not speak German =D. I helped the kids with their homeworks, prepare food and tidy up later, accompany them to play outside the garden or the grounds (a small football field is there).
I learned German from the kids in my group, they would be so lively explaining to me how an English sentence is to be said in German, and they use simple words. I learned to be patient with them especially since the kids are from 55 different nationalities, mostly of mixed heritage...therefore, each a different personality, a different strength, different weakness. In my group was a (mom-dad arrangement) Filipino-Austrian, a British-Croatian, a Dutch-British, a Romanian-African, 2 Iraqi-Austrian, a Fench-Austrian, an Australian-Austrian and one whose parents are from the opposing parts of Sarajevo. Among the group we also had a boy from Iraq, a boy and girl from India (the nicest), at least I also remember a boy of Portugese decent, the loudest in the group whose mom was very nice =D. There were at least 9 kids whose parents are both Austrians.
Back then, I always have my camera too...I have compiled their photos and was glad I opened the folder today....Above photo: kids of group 3, the smallest girl was then 6 years old, she's surely in middle school now as the kids below, they were the grade 1 class and they were the sweetest, funniest sometimes most hard-headed in my group (gr 2).
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