20080808 Nhat Feedback

Here is a summary of the feedback of the trip during the debriefing.
1. Longer camp with a break in between
2. A welcome party on the second night to help break some ice with the students
3. Redefine the book to be more user friendly (pictures of mouth-tongue position or other vocabulary) and make sure all the manuals have consistent page numbering
4. Oral reading with role play helped the student understand the big picture of the story
5. Multimedia needs to be updated to have less points and maybe some music or video
6. Not have an event on every night since the students seem to have other classes beside our English camp and therefore a lot of them are tired during regular class
7. Movies at night should only be in English with English subtitle (expect for the J. file) to help them match the English words to the sound instead of reading the Chinese and forget to focus on the learning. Have a quiz next day on the movie would encourage focus participation.
8. Less translation and try more to use English (draw, act, and similar words) to explain so the students are force to listen instead of looking to the translator.
9. School staffs were very supportive and helpful. This included the school shop and canteen (kitchen).
10. Presentation format worked out well that have teachers’ presentations between students’ presentation to provide some break and also a (light) good news message.
11. We need an updated music sheet that was provided by Shirley and Jack (Australian song and make sure we have the music – mp3 – to play it for the students/teachers)
12. We need an updated game list provide by Andy with the newly invented games that worked towards their culture and English level
13. Need to tell students to copy song into their note books and make sure they copy the correct wordings
14. Wanted to live in lower standard so we are closer to students’ accommodation than in an air-condition hotel. Though PI wants to make sure we are healthy during our service as we work hard and our body is adjusting to the new environment.
15. Have small mirror in class to show students if they are positioning their mouth-tongue properly
16. Afternoon games were well received. We need to collect all the balls or balloons after so that it does not distract them outside of the game time.
17. Clear night event so that all teachers will be on the same page in regard to being together to support each other in the event and not entertain the students in different activities (chess, connect four, side games, banner, ..) Keep them all together and on teaching English.
18. Update movie collections since most have seen Nemo.
19. Clarification of “Class of Hope” as not all students who are needy and from small villages. There is only one “Class of Hope” but since there is two classes in the same grade, the principal asked PI to sponsor the other class. In the future, these are students we sponsor and therefore we have a means to come and bond with them for planting seeds.
20. Beads were well received as we have many people who made crosses and the balloons (round and long) totally drove the classes into a frenzy.
21. Morning tips on today’s lessons were a good reminder
22. Principal noticed that the students are more confident in speaking English and were grateful for our contribution.
23. Blogging was good to keep home-front updated and keep us in their thoughts
24. Presentation and signing on the night before would be better for time management
25. Team were supportive of each other and since it was small team, it was easy to gather for meeting or update during breakfast or lunch

If I miss any, the other members can blog it.
Team lead - Nhat