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One Library at a Time: Creating Libraries in Panama for Community Learning

Working with One Library at a Time (OLAT) was an amazing experience! I heard about the organization through another Peace Corps volunteer named Enid, living in Volcán, Panama.   She told me when OLAT volunteers would be coming to her site to help her set up a library for the school and I asked to join to learn a little more about what they do. When I arrived I saw two OLAT volunteers working alongside community member volunteers to label books and shelves, as well as write cards for the catalog.   The volunteers quickly introduced themselves, welcomed me, and showed me what needed to be done. Later in the day student volunteers came in to help label.   They enjoyed themselves and loved exploring the new books! The majority of the students had never been to a library before so the entire experience was new and eye-opening for them. I stayed for a few days to see the library project pan out and I was completely inspired to start a project in my site. I gathered all of the mat
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5 Easy Steps to Successfully Launching an Engaging English Course for Kids

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By Peace Corps Volunteer Laura Layton, Chiriquí, Panamá   Summer English Course Teachers (2019): Ashley, Ingris ,  Brianys ,  Laura (me),  Cristibelle , and Melanie In this article, I share resources and suggestions for how to organize your class to maximize student learning and engagement and lower your stress from planning.  Are you an English as a Second or Foreign Language teacher looking for ways to improve your class organization and increase student engagement? Do you find yourself overwhelmed with the task of lesson planning for your class? If so, you're in the right place. In this blog post, I'll provide you with valuable resources and practical suggestions to help you optimize your class organization for better student learning outcomes. By implementing these strategies, you'll not only reduce your stress levels but also attract more students to your class. So, let's dive in and discover how to take your English class to the next level!   Part o
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22 Engaging and Dynamic Activities for Teaching English as a Second Language That Will Keep Your Students Coming Back For More

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by Peace Corps Volunteer Laura Layton, Chiriquí, Panama   Four Corners: Cuatro Esquinas Materials: 4 sheets of paper, tape, markers   Tape a paper in each corner of the room: agree, strongly agree, disagree, strongly disagree. Make a statement and have students walk to the corner to show their opinión about the statement. The students can discuss their opinions with other students in their corner and later, students from each corner should share with the class.   Quiz–Quiz–Trade: Preguntar-Preguntar-Intercambiar   Materials: index cards and markers Each student receives a card with one word in English and the same word translated in Spanish. (This activity may be done with phrases and questions as well). Students must walk around the room while they are listening to music, and when the music stops, they need to find a partner quickly.   In pairs, each student reads the word, phrase or question in English (or shows the image) on their card to their partner, and the
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