Thursday, August 25, 2005

math teacher twice a week.

Today was our first official day. It is our second day working with IRC (International Regufee Committee). The first day was an introductory/orientation type of class, but it was still a class for my class any way. Ben and I got to help two students one-on-one with some mathemtics. They're eager to learn. They have a ways to go. But they've already made tremendous progressive strides. And they all want to be a programmer of some sorts, some day. The first day we had 4 students. Today there were only 2. Perhaps they forgot? This Sunday Ben and I will be meeting with these kids again a couple of hours after noon-time so we can continue with the tutoring. It is tutoring, but it's much more like a crash course in english terminology, mathematics, and all the concepts that go in between. Fortunately they understand many of the gibberish that comes out of my mouth which is practically a miracle in and of itself considering this is me we're talking about here. But these are Liberian kids; kids in their early adolescence; kids who still need time and training before they can tame the english language on their own. It's not suppose to be this way, only once a week. But after sitting down for a few hours, those hours seeming like just 30 minutes, you realize that:

1. These kids are serious.
2. They're in a serious predicament.
3. They need serious help.

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