Far'ata

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Observers: 
Adam Ron, Ricky Frankel, Orli Wertheim, Nirit Haviv (Reporting)
Jan-22-2014
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Afternoon

 Translation: Bracha Ben-Avraham

 

14:00 – Far'ata

Several women were already waiting for us at the clubhouse and showed us the necklaces that they had completed at home.  The rest joined us and the lesson began after 15 minutes.  Several women had brought beads and we distributed beads and strings left over from the previous lesson to those who had come without.

Ricky and Orli showed the women the new bead pattern and then showed the women how to do it one by one.  The women worked in pairs and in groups and quickly created lovely colorful necklaces for themselves and their daughters, or which could be given as gifts to others.   They were asked to bring different sized beads, string, and needles to the next lesson.  One of the younger women who was not interested in beadwork showed us some sketches she had done, and Orli promised that she would show her some fundamentals of sketching at the next lesson.  The lesson took place in a friendly, cheerful atmosphere despite the language barrier.

 

Adam gave an English lesson in the neighboring classroom, or more precisely, "survived" the first lesson. We had agreed that the class would include 12 students aged 13-16, but 28 students arrived.  Adam had prepared books and learning materials for 12 students who would be divided into two levels, aged 10-18.   Half of the students came without pens, pencils, or notebooks.  Since there were far too many students, he changed his plans, and conversed with the students in English and Arabic.   He then taught them the words to the Beatles song "One, two three, four" and they enjoyed it.

Adam remarked, "I now realize that the first thing a language teacher has to do in Farata is to arrive without expectations.  Secondly, you need to make contact with the students, to arouse them, and truly want to succeed.  Some of them have given up any form of ambition.   Thirdly, many of them harbor negative feelings towards any Israeli man despite his good intentions.  This is part of their reality and this is what I have to work with.   They are wonderful and I like them.  Y., a 16-year-old girl who speaks English helped me translate and communicate.  She was a wonderful girl.  I managed to converse in Arabic without difficulty.  My grammar is not great and my vocabulary is limited, but I managed to converse and they talked to me and asked for advice.   I hope that I helped them and that I said what I had meant to say.    

             

More than two hours later we finished the lessons and R. invited us for coffee and tea.   We chatted in English and Adam amazed us by speaking Arabic with her.  We kissed everyone goodbye and left for home.