Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/alamosbasement/3564909187/sizes/m/

Over thirty volunteers participated last year (2006-2007), including seven new faces. At least fifteen schools participate. A big thank you to everyone for enabling this project to be such a success.

‘All of the kids there are special and each has his own unique story.’ ‘We would like to thank you for the effort...and time you have spent improving our spoken language and preparing us for the real exam... We all passed the oral Bagrut exam with flying colors.’ This is the feedback from volunteers and schools after the successful conclusion of the matriculation exams in spoken English. Esra volunteers are pleased with their contribution and with the reaction of the youngsters. The students enjoy taking time out of regular classes for a conversation in English completely dedicated to them. The teachers are happy with the results.

During the 2006-2007 school year, three schools were added to the Esra oral matric volunteer program in Tel Aviv. And two schools were dropped. Why? The scheme relies on active participation and discipline of the teachers; when they fail to send pupils on time, and volunteers are left waiting around, the situation is deemed untenable. Hopefully next year we’ll be able to put things right.

For information on volunteering for the Oral Matric program in Tel Aviv and elsewhere contact Gill Teicher 03 602 1008.