Simon is now old enough to begin school. Actually, according to French law, he wouldn't have to start school until next September, but since we are going to be homeschooling we thought it might be a good idea to get the hang of things in a year where it “doesn't matter”!
We decided a few months ago that it would be Marc who would do the majority of the homeschooling. We had decided a long time ago that we would follow the French school system, mainly because they have a distance learning scheme which goes from Reception class onwards and which is subsidized for French people living abroad. It therefore makes more sense for it to be Marc teaching it, and that fitted in with our idea that our priority is to complete the translation of the Bible into Monkolé.
So since Thursday 1st September we have had a new routine. On Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday mornings at 8.30am, Marc and Simon head off to the small house on our mission property for school. One of the bedrooms has been converted into a classroom … and since it was originally converted from being a translation office it actually still has a blackboard on the wall! (Funny how God provides!) At the same time, Benjy and I go to the (new) translation office, the third building on the property. The pastor meets us there, and all being well not long afterwards his wife turns up to work in our house and takes Benjy with her. (I will be writing another post soon about the translation work!)
At 10.30am we all meet up for our coffee/tea/squash break at our house, and at 11 go back to work. Marc and Simon finish at 11.30 and I continue working with the pastor until 12.30. At that point I go back to the house where I find the meal that has been sent up from the village ready and waiting to be served! A lady down in the village is cooking for us every weekday lunchtime, and so far it has been delicious! The only problem is that the quantities are enormous, and have been sufficient for both midday and evening meals … we will be putting on weight if it goes on like this!
On Wednesdays we follow French tradition and Simon doesn't have school. This gives his parents a chance to have a language learning session with the pastor (I then carry on with translation after break). We realise that we still have progress to make with the language, and need to plan in time to do this.
So far, Simon has been loving school, and is very conscientious about his work. The distance learning scheme hasn't turned up yet, however, either because it is taking an awfully long time to get here (most things are taking about 6 weeks from Europe at the moment) or because it has got lost. We are praying that it won't take too long to arrive. For the moment Marc has plenty to occupy Simon as he has a lot of books which either his family have sent to us, or we've bought in Cotonou, but in years to come we hope we won't be starting the school year a month late just because we haven't received the resources!
As for Benjy, he did seem a little unsettled by the changes the first couple of days, and wanted to stay in the translation office with me instead of going with the pastor's wife. I had brought some toy cars and colouring books to the translation office with us. But then he realised that his friends were playing over in his house without him, and that actually he might have more fun over there!
I'm going to do some English school some afternoons with both boys, but am waiting until we get used to our mornings before structuring our afternoons more. It is going to be a challenge to find some things which will interest them both, and other things where I can supervise them separately at different levels. But I am looking forward to it! Marc is using his afternoons to prepare teaching for the church.
Simon and his teacher!
Benjy in his little corner of the translation office:
We decided a few months ago that it would be Marc who would do the majority of the homeschooling. We had decided a long time ago that we would follow the French school system, mainly because they have a distance learning scheme which goes from Reception class onwards and which is subsidized for French people living abroad. It therefore makes more sense for it to be Marc teaching it, and that fitted in with our idea that our priority is to complete the translation of the Bible into Monkolé.
So since Thursday 1st September we have had a new routine. On Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday mornings at 8.30am, Marc and Simon head off to the small house on our mission property for school. One of the bedrooms has been converted into a classroom … and since it was originally converted from being a translation office it actually still has a blackboard on the wall! (Funny how God provides!) At the same time, Benjy and I go to the (new) translation office, the third building on the property. The pastor meets us there, and all being well not long afterwards his wife turns up to work in our house and takes Benjy with her. (I will be writing another post soon about the translation work!)
At 10.30am we all meet up for our coffee/tea/squash break at our house, and at 11 go back to work. Marc and Simon finish at 11.30 and I continue working with the pastor until 12.30. At that point I go back to the house where I find the meal that has been sent up from the village ready and waiting to be served! A lady down in the village is cooking for us every weekday lunchtime, and so far it has been delicious! The only problem is that the quantities are enormous, and have been sufficient for both midday and evening meals … we will be putting on weight if it goes on like this!
On Wednesdays we follow French tradition and Simon doesn't have school. This gives his parents a chance to have a language learning session with the pastor (I then carry on with translation after break). We realise that we still have progress to make with the language, and need to plan in time to do this.
So far, Simon has been loving school, and is very conscientious about his work. The distance learning scheme hasn't turned up yet, however, either because it is taking an awfully long time to get here (most things are taking about 6 weeks from Europe at the moment) or because it has got lost. We are praying that it won't take too long to arrive. For the moment Marc has plenty to occupy Simon as he has a lot of books which either his family have sent to us, or we've bought in Cotonou, but in years to come we hope we won't be starting the school year a month late just because we haven't received the resources!
As for Benjy, he did seem a little unsettled by the changes the first couple of days, and wanted to stay in the translation office with me instead of going with the pastor's wife. I had brought some toy cars and colouring books to the translation office with us. But then he realised that his friends were playing over in his house without him, and that actually he might have more fun over there!
I'm going to do some English school some afternoons with both boys, but am waiting until we get used to our mornings before structuring our afternoons more. It is going to be a challenge to find some things which will interest them both, and other things where I can supervise them separately at different levels. But I am looking forward to it! Marc is using his afternoons to prepare teaching for the church.
Simon and his teacher!
Benjy in his little corner of the translation office:
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