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JacksonFive's Free "Path2English" Newsletter,
http://www.path2english.com/
Issue: 52               "My Summer"             Sep 30, 2001
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Dear Reader,

    This Monday I went to the Cultural Heritage Exposition in Taichung
    County. It was near the ocean and at a new exposition hall.
    There were lots of cultural performances and demonstrations from
    around the island. Our new teacher, Rosemary also went with my
    wife and me. We had a great time together.

    September was quite an "interesting month" for the world community
    as a whole and for Taiwan in particular (typhoon). I think we all
    need a little cheering up. I'm dedicating this issue to the
    recharging of the soul and bringing a bit of happiness to your life.

    For a starter, you can read this great English Share that I have
    saved for the right occasion.
    http://www.path2english.com/Share/Spark.htm It is a very moving
    article and the conclusion is purely "coincidental" (def: pure
    chance). I must say that this article brings tears to my eyes every
    time I read it.
  (538K MP3 recording,
    http://www.path2english.com/Reference/MP3-052-01.mp3 or
    http://home.pchome.com.tw/education/path2english/MP3-052-01.mp3)

    As mentioned in the story, sometimes it isn't the prodigies that
    make teaching rewarding, but the "challenged" students that you
    have helped turn around. This reminded me of what happened this
    summer. We had many children that "challenged" their parents.
    When their parents came to visit my school for the first time, they
    warned me; "My child has learned English at "so-and-so" English
    School (def: symbolizing examples without naming them). Though, I
    really like your school a lot, I'm afraid my child doesn't like
    studying English anymore. I don't know what to do, but I hope you
    can help me."

    There were five children like this in our summer program. It was
    interesting to see these "challenged children" dragged here by
    their parents the first day. You would hear things like, "Mom you
    lied to me. You said I wasn't going to study English." I had to
    smile. I really did. I know in a day or two they would "change
    their tune" (def: change their mind). And they did, some of them
    even during the first day. I guess no matter what English schools
    they have been "tortured at" in the past; they can really feel the
    difference here.
  (618K MP3 recording,
    http://www.path2english.com/Reference/MP3-052-02.mp3 or
    http://home.pchome.com.tw/education/path2english/MP3-052-02.mp3)

    What I have noticed is that these children who don't like English
    don't necessary have poor learning ability. When they are here,
    they learned just as quickly as the other children. They just
    didn't like how they were taught at the other schools. Actually,
    these students are the ones I remember the best because we didn't
    just teach them; we changed their attitude. Like I always like to
    say, "Any school can teach children who already love English. It
    takes a very good school to change a negative attitude."

    You can see pictures and video streams of our summer camp from
    here, http://www.jacksonfive.com.tw/Camps/Camps.htm#Summer01
    Note: almost all the children in the summer program were new to
    our school. I have two questions for you:
    1) Can you tell me who are the five children in the pictures that
        hate English? Can you pick them out ^_^
    2) This is a more technical question, but much easier. Can you
        tell me what is the difference between these summer camp pictures
        and previous pictures on the website?
  (609K MP3 recording,
    http://www.path2english.com/Reference/MP3-052-03.mp3 or
    http://home.pchome.com.tw/education/path2english/MP3-052-03.mp3)

    Footnote: it is very personally rewarding to know all these summer
    camp students have continued on at our school. Their parents were
    pleased not only because their children had fun and learned a lot
    of English; but because it is an American Style Summer Camp, their
    children had a lot of exercise. First graders, who were afraid of
    soccer balls or didn't know how to play basketball, were very
    physically active by the end of the summer months. One mother told
    me her child was eating a lot more and sleeping better. Another
    mother reported her son had salt around his waist when she took off
    his shirt ^_^ I also have observed that these children grew taller
    with the physical exercise. Though, I must admit I felt a bit
    guilty because of all the dirty, sweaty clothes these mothers must
    have had to wash ^_^
  (505K MP3 recording,
    http://www.path2english.com/Reference/MP3-052-04.mp3 or
    http://home.pchome.com.tw/education/path2english/MP3-052-04.mp3)

THIS ISSUE's FEATURED TOPIC:

    "My Summer"

  My summer was spent with the children of our new Unicorn class
  (mentioned above). Every morning I would play basketball or soccer
  with them. I would teach them to play English games in the computer
  lab. In the afternoon, I would teach them geography, crafts, science,
  and phonics. We would also watch English movies, sing songs, and play
  games together. I recall many hours of fun playing board games with
  them. They never seemed to tire of these and always asked for more.

  As I organize the photo's and video streams for the school website
  (above), I'm reminded of the great time I had with these children
  this summer. Amusingly, I tell the parents, "I spent more time with
  your child than you did this summer." I feel very close to each and
  every one of them. Some of them, in fact, have bonded so tightly with
  me that they call me "father" ^_^

  I had a very special summer with these students indeed. By next
  summer though, I will have a baby girl of my own. She won't be able
  to call me "father" though ^_^ I'm sure looking forward to my
  students here teaching her the same games and songs I've taught them.
  In a way, she will have many older brothers and sisters. And like me
  as well, they are looking forward to her arrival.
(816K MP3 recording,
  http://www.path2english.com/Reference/MP3-052-05.mp3 or
  http://home.pchome.com.tw/education/path2english/MP3-052-05.mp3)

NEXT ISSUE's FEATURED TOPIC:

    "My Baby"

<< JacksonFive Family News >>
  I'm looking for another staff member to join our JacksonFive Team at
  the school. If you or a friend are interested in contributing to a
  school that makes a difference and likes working in a western style
  environment, please visit this web page,
  http://www.jacksonfive.com.tw/Wanted/Staff.htm