January has been a busy month for the English program, with almost 200 local students now taking classes spread across 23 separate groups. With classes running five days a week, in addition to library sessions and activities, our teaching team has had to rise to the challenge. Our students always return energized and eager to learn after the holidays, perhaps helped in part by the copious quantities of sugary candy and other treats consumed during the holidays. Many high school students have returned to Na’atik classes even before their ‘regular’ schools go back into session after the holidays, which underlines the seriousness with which they treat their classes here.

As we have been able to add books and new computer equipment to the Na’atik Library over the past few months, thanks to generous donations, student’s have been particularly excited for their library sessions. Teaching children to love books and reading is core to creating life-long learners, and central to our ethos here at Na’atik. We intend to add even more new reading material over the coming months, including the expansion of our non-fiction section and graphic novels for older students.

We have also been delighted and grateful to welcome the assistance of volunteers, without whom our teacher’s job would be even harder. Amy, a teacher and language enthusiast from Washington state, has been leading weekend classes for some of our students, and Shiloh, a student at William and Mary College in Virginia, also volunteered her time to help with the first weeks of classes.  Our students benefit greatly from hearing a variety of native English speaking voices and accents. They always love hearing about life elsewhere and getting the opportunity to share their culture and way of life with new people.  A big thanks to both for their help!

Library assistant Linda has also had a busy month, stepping in to help our teaching team by running library sessions and coteaching to gain classroom experience before she leaves in the summer to pursue a degree in teaching.

The remainder of the academic year promises to be a busy, yet rewarding one, and as ever we have no doubt that the English teaching team will continue to use their passion and skills to help our students change their own lives.

To read more about our English program visit our Impact Page. If you are interested in sponsoring one of our local English language students, more information can be found on our Maya Youth Scholarship page, or contact communications@nattikmexico.org. Remember, Na’atik is a nonprofit organization and every immersion visit or online class package purchased helps us to provide life changing opportunities to local and Indigenous students in an area where 70 percent of people live below the poverty line. Your support makes a difference.