English Class

December 2016 brought us the the end of another semester.  We finished teaching our basic and intermediate English class at the Institute of Religion.  This semester's classes were our best.   Every Tuesday afternoon from 5:00-6:30 pm, Peggy and I taught about 15-20 young adults English.  Peggy taught the beginning English speakers who can't speak any English at all and I taught the intermediate class.

Randy's class- L-R.  Juan Luis, Ney, Candy, Wilfredo, Sonia,
Mariano, Roberty, Pantaleon , Bladimir

Randy's students can carry on a basic conversation but struggle with pronunciation of certain words and need to expand their vocabulary.  To get them to talk in English the students come to the front of the class and answer the question,  "Tell us what you did this last weekend." We also read stories for comphrehnsion and write vocabulary words and phrases.

A highlight from our class was the baptism of Wilfred Valdez.  What an amazing young man!  "Elder and Sister Park, I have a surprise for you.  Will you come to my baptism?" he asked.  "Absolutely!" we responded. He was baptised about a month ago.  An amazing young man with a strong testimony. We have really grown to love Wilfredo.

Another one of our students, Mariano, gives us both a piece of Mango candy each week.  Mariano is just a very happy guy all the time and you love to be around him.  He says, "Teacher, this (candy) is for you!"  He is thrilled to give us his little treat every week without fail and we are so excited to receive it.  It is really good candy!  After you melt the outer candy shell there is bubblegum on the inside.

Mariano's Mango Candy 

Peggy's class changes a lot because new students enter all the time with little or no English skill whatsoever. The students who have been coming for awhile are starting to be able to communicate a little. There are several students that are not members of the church and that is exciting to see the others reach out to them. A couple of weeks ago one of Peggy's students, Wanlly, who is not a member, told Peggy that if she ever quits coming, it's because she has found a job. She has been looking for a job for quite some time. When one of Peggy's other students Candy heard this, she took Wanlly's resume to give it to her company's personnel office to see if they could give Wanlly an interview. It's people like Candy, who reach out to the Wanlly that give the Church it's good reputation here.
Our institute is the only place around where students can get some English training that doesn't cost them. We are certainly not professionals, but we really care about the people of the Dominican Republic. We hope we are being of some small service. They are an amazing people with incredible faith.