Project Advocate: Mary Benziger (thebenzigers@hotmail.com)
Outline of Project: Teaching ESL is a project that any PIH volunteer (especially non-medical
people looking for a meaningful way to help out) can do. Nicaraguans are eager to learn
English. English can empower them, and learning a language offers personal satisfaction and
growth.
Accomplishments of Project August 2007-2008:
• I researched and compiled a curriculum for 4 consecutive classes of basic ESL
teaching. In February 2008 on arriving in Puerto Cabezas, I asked Emilio if he could
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help me find people interested in learning English. The free classes were held at the
conference room in the Guest House at 3-4:00 pm. There were 10 students ranging in
age from 14 to 60. We learned the first day the importance of having a dry erase board.
The second day we had a piece of linoleum that served the purpose. Every day I used
the photocopy service available at a nearby libreria. (1 cord/copy) Every day I gave
photocopied materials to the students. We celebrated the last class with the topic of
“foods” and a healthy snack.
• Subsequently drew up more lesson plans. Sent to Molly for posting on our website for
any interested volunteer.
Goals for the next year:
• Develop more lesson plans.
• Make sure the necessary materials for teaching (dry erase board, markers, spiral
notebooks, pencils, pencil sharpener) are stored in the Volunteer House bodega.
Funding: Donations
Volunteer Visits: February 2008
Next Visit: Spring 2009