What a wonderful experience we all are having again at Andres Quintana Roo Primary School in Chicxulub! For at least 10 years, snowbirds and expats have volunteered their time with the  afternoon students in grades 3 through 6, their Teachers, and the Directora, to promote and provide introductory English instruction one hour a week over 10 weeks from mid January through to the end of March.

The curriculum at each grade level includes words and phrases for meeting and greeting people, family and friends. It builds year to year to include simple sentences such as ‘I have’, ‘I do not have’, ‘I can’, ‘I cannot’, ‘do you have’ etc. As well, the students get some practice in counting in English. The program is mostly oral. The students are encouraged to talk, talk, talk – to their teachers and to each other – through games and singing.The goal of the programme is to have the students become comfortable hearing and
speaking simple English words and phrases so that they may greet visitors to their pueblo and as a support for their future endeavours in the work force.

This year, the students brainstormed with their classroom teachers to prepare thank you cards, in English, for us. They were all special and touching!

Thank you, one and all, for this happy, productive, successful season!