|
"Na'faj" is the Arabic word for a small gateway in the adjoining wall between two neighbours. It's also the adopted name for a Sudanese organisation aiming to give practical attention, help, and assistance to people in IDP (internally displaced people) camps. The majority of volunteers are qualified doctors or other medical staff. They turn up regularly and run clinics. They've done studies and written proposals applying for funding. In the meantime they need a chance to improve their spoken English so recently I started meeting with a group of volunteers. They are fun, funny and smart. When I ask for discussion topics I get "harmful traditions", "brown is better than red", "affects of the pressures of modern life" and the "value of using discussion as a way of learning English". Omyma tells me her favourite colour is "blue, brown with some shades of purple". One class rule is you must answer direct questions even if you don't tell the truth. This evening is very entertaining. We are discussing mobile phones. Who has one? What for? Cost? Justification? Taking calls on public transport, etiquette in cinemas and meetings. Missed calls. Selecting a ringtone in public places. How text messaging is different from voice… Anyway some of the answers to what they would do to the ignorant cinema-goer I'm sure were made-up. After last class we go for ice-creams. Of course it's my suggestion, and of course someone else insists on paying - tamam! (perfect). I have a crisp cone with delicious scoops of banana, mango and vanilla. Omyma comes too and smiles a lot. I'm not too sure how much English she actually understands.
|
