Week 4 "My Family"

This week we worked on one of my favorite lessons with my level O students: family. First I talked about the pictures I'd brought of mom, my sister, Leo, our kids and grandkids, then I asked them to bring in pictures of theirs families. On the second day we all sat around in a circle and listened as each one described her or his pictures.

Zorica has a beautiful daughter who was a dancer in Serbia but now works at a hotel here in Chicago. She has a handsome son who goes to college in Serbia. Her husband is working in Budapest. "Don't you miss them?" I asked her. "Skye," she answered with a smile. "Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, my husband talk...Skype." Technology is so wonderful.

B. from Eritrea showed us her family pictures. "I have three step-sisters." Then she explained that Islam allows a man to have two or three wives, "but not in this country," she quickly added. The picture of her brother and his family was wonderful. Although sepia-toned the pattern of the wife's dress suggested a colorful material not found in this country. Their baby daughter looked like she could have been born anywhere.

Maria from Mexico had carefully pasted her photos on construction paper and labeled each one: husband, daughter, mother, grandmother. After each presentation, the students clapped enthusiastically without any prompting. It was becoming apparent that they were starting to gel, to really enjoy their similarities, like their love of family and their goal of learning English. They also seemed to appreciate their differences.