"I liked that, let's do it again"

These are the words of one of the 57 students in the Conversational English Program after today, the first full day of class!. Monday, we gave written and 1-1- oral assessments to each student and amazingly, they are working in three equally distributed groups. The beginner, early intermediate and intermediate groups are off and running. We just call them Room #1, #2, and 3#.

This week, during VBS, all but about 9 of the students are taking part in a practicum experience that will help them prepare to work with young children as part of their Youth Worker studies here at the Bible School. During the morning, these intermediate students are having a lot of attention and opportunity for c-o-n-v-e-r-s-a-t-i-o-n with American language models.

In the afternoon, we have a full house with lots of t-a-l-k-i-n-g going on. All of the students are talking to each other and to their teachers and are getting to know one another. In the early intermediate group , this afternoon, we discussed various kinds of recreation. One student commented that she loved the day. She knows how to play "beach volley ball" and and now she can say "b-e-a-c-h v-o-l-l-e-y-b-a-l-l"

We are having opportunity for c-o-m-m-u-n-i-c-a-t-i-o-n and meaningful discussions with students including why they come here to study and what they plan to do in the future. Believe me, every minute of that long plane ride and that long bus ride was worth it.

Mary Schultz, Conversational English Teacher from Roseville Lutheran