Up at 6.30am, already half an hour after the garment factory workers have rattled noisily past on crowded remorques and the dogs have started their morning chorus. Stretches and strengtheners (in case my physio reads this), then finalise material for the report writing class scheduled for 8.30am.
One of my key tasks here at RDI is to work with the staff to improve their English technical writing. I run a number of classes a week. 8am – 9am Tuesday is Grammar open to anyone with goals to develop their English writing skills and commitment to the class. We are aiming for tangible improvements weekly as we target specific grammatical problems I have identified through initial writing tasks. Ensuring everyone takes each step together – through attendance and study – is the tool I hope to use to see these step by step and permanent improvements.
As a native English speaker who went through school in the 1980’s and 90’s, I have been taught very little English grammar – it was simply not done at the time. So I spend of time now developing my own grammar skills. I have a great deal of help from connections at home – my mum and her friends all with ESL expertise, my Aunty Debbie a Librarian at University of Canberra, who all supplied and recommended the necessary resources, answered my questions, and supplied delicious lemon butter, and Patty who carried them all the way from home. It's great what people will do for you when you are so far from home! I am now rapidly learning my verb tenses, and all about prepositions, countable and uncountable nouns, and articles and promise to repay all those who helped with a verb conjugation (once I work out what that is!).
On Wednesdays 8am we have the Technical Writing Class. I focus on improving lab staff capabilities to analyse the data they produce through water sampling and pollutant testing, and to develop and write scientific papers in English and ultimately to undertake scientific research. The staff have all completed, or are completing university study in biochemistry, microbiology or engineering. Many wish to pursue postgraduate study which is really only possible overseas, and often in English….that’s where I come in.
I repeat these classes on Wednesday and Thursday evenings for two staff members who are at university during the day and who work at night, Friday morning is beginner English for 3 staff members who spend 4 days a week taking water samples, and Thursday mornings we are starting an additional class for general report writing – reports on project progress, proposal writing, etc. A crucial part of capacity building here at RDI is to improve the skills of staff to the point where they can take on additional responsibilities including report writing through improved skills in a variety of areas.
7.15am a very productive Skype call home to Todd, my position supervisor to discuss future strategies, networking with Cambodian colleagues, blog sites…
8.15am My favourite breakfast of milo dgo (milo with ice and sweetened condensed milk) and rice with bbq pork.
8.30 am Class postponed! Phew exhausted and it is not even 9am.
Judy – Thursday 1 November, 2007
One of my key tasks here at RDI is to work with the staff to improve their English technical writing. I run a number of classes a week. 8am – 9am Tuesday is Grammar open to anyone with goals to develop their English writing skills and commitment to the class. We are aiming for tangible improvements weekly as we target specific grammatical problems I have identified through initial writing tasks. Ensuring everyone takes each step together – through attendance and study – is the tool I hope to use to see these step by step and permanent improvements.
As a native English speaker who went through school in the 1980’s and 90’s, I have been taught very little English grammar – it was simply not done at the time. So I spend of time now developing my own grammar skills. I have a great deal of help from connections at home – my mum and her friends all with ESL expertise, my Aunty Debbie a Librarian at University of Canberra, who all supplied and recommended the necessary resources, answered my questions, and supplied delicious lemon butter, and Patty who carried them all the way from home. It's great what people will do for you when you are so far from home! I am now rapidly learning my verb tenses, and all about prepositions, countable and uncountable nouns, and articles and promise to repay all those who helped with a verb conjugation (once I work out what that is!).
On Wednesdays 8am we have the Technical Writing Class. I focus on improving lab staff capabilities to analyse the data they produce through water sampling and pollutant testing, and to develop and write scientific papers in English and ultimately to undertake scientific research. The staff have all completed, or are completing university study in biochemistry, microbiology or engineering. Many wish to pursue postgraduate study which is really only possible overseas, and often in English….that’s where I come in.
I repeat these classes on Wednesday and Thursday evenings for two staff members who are at university during the day and who work at night, Friday morning is beginner English for 3 staff members who spend 4 days a week taking water samples, and Thursday mornings we are starting an additional class for general report writing – reports on project progress, proposal writing, etc. A crucial part of capacity building here at RDI is to improve the skills of staff to the point where they can take on additional responsibilities including report writing through improved skills in a variety of areas.
7.15am a very productive Skype call home to Todd, my position supervisor to discuss future strategies, networking with Cambodian colleagues, blog sites…
8.15am My favourite breakfast of milo dgo (milo with ice and sweetened condensed milk) and rice with bbq pork.
8.30 am Class postponed! Phew exhausted and it is not even 9am.
Judy – Thursday 1 November, 2007
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