I never thought I would have to expose my voice and creativity as much as I have in Benin. My hobbies, usually confined to my room are some of my greatest tools here!
Ever since 5th grade I've been in choirs singing pop, remixes, and cultural songs. I joined show choir in Highschool for 3 years and had 2 solos! So I wasn't nervous about my voice. But here in Benin it is me in the lead always and it's been amazing and hilarious at some points. I was also chosen to sing the National Anthem for our swearing in Ceremony and do multiple warm up songs at PC training and Charlie's English club!
Singing songs is an amazing way to memorize words and grammar, kids love it and it makes them happy. I also love singing and can't live without it but being a singer in front of all the kids is sometimes intimidating. We start every class year teaching Frère Jaques in English class because it is a nursery song they all know the beat of. Slowly we go through ABC, Verb songs, more nursery rhymes or geography songs. I can say a few words and the kids will start singing all aloud. I even tried to create my own song but it backfired as the beat was unknown to them and me and it flopped. I did learn to make smaller songs though. The kids love Christmas songs!
There was even a time where my counterpart was starting to teach a song and the students said no we want Emma to sing it! I was secretly really happy the students appreciated my voice.
My paintings have never been something I show others, I don't really consider myself talented in drawing or painting but when my students don't even have a book to see what the words mean I have to draw!
This lesson is about vocabulary at the market but I also draw for occupations, cities, animals, foods, clothes, and more are all drawn on the board and the students must draw it in their books. So all my work is around.
Rose my little neighbor and I have been enjoying painting with watercolors I brought from America. Usually I paint something like an animals or flowers simple things and Rose copies what I do. She recently came to my house and kept saying Emma is #1 rose is bad Rose is #2 relating to our paintings. It was so funny that she didn't have the words to say Emma you paint better in french she just says Emma premiere, Rose second with a sad pouty face. We are creative and learning together!
French words of the week
Pagaille - disruptive, rude
Bavarder - chatty
Moyen - average
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