Language Center Opens in the Primary School

“Ooh, my turn.” “I want to try!”

These were the reactions of the adults getting a tour of the new Language Center in the WASNS primary school.

The tour was a part of the official opening of the Language Center, on March 1, 2023. The opening began outside on the warm spring day. Several of the school oud players played as everyone took their places.
Principal Neama Abu Delo opened the event in two languages, welcoming everyone to participate in the joy of opening this special, unique center.

Dr. Ariela Bairey-Ben Ishay, Chairperson of the Educational Association, spoke about the original, modest language center that had previously existed in the school: “I remember my daughter’s favorite day of the week was the one her class went to the language center,” she said, expressing her certainty that the children in today’s primary school will find just as much joy in the new, updated version of the center.

Village member Eitan Kremer, who was a friend of Anne LeMeignen, told the participants about Anne, who bequeathed the funds for the building to the school. (See his speech [1], attached, in Hebrew.)

Then it was time for Neama to cut the ribbon, and Eitan to unveil the plaque at the entrance. Lutfiya and Ilanit, the third-grade teachers who are the Language Center coordinators, took the adults around the Center while the children ran off to see a film. The two teachers had worked for over a year with Madrassa language education developers to create a wealth of programs for the Center, making and educational curriculum that is truly unique. They also worked with Language Center architect Shireen Manassa to design a building with delightful corners for each of the different activities: A library corner with books and a sofa, reading material and card games; a stage corner for practicing speaking skills; a stocked market corner where kids will learn real-life language skills buying and selling food, clothing and other effects.

Along one wall were placed different sized colorful cushions. Ilanit and Lutfiya sat to demonstrate: “This is the corner where the kids will sit and talk to one another. They can talk about their feelings, get to know one another.”

The center of the large room in the Language Center is given over to an electronic game box set in the ceiling, which projects the games onto the floor. All of the games are programmed in both Hebrew and Arabic. As the adults played a matching game, stepping on a picture and then on the correct word, the teachers explained that this is not just a way of making learning language fun: For some kids active learning, using their whole body to absorb the lesson, is a very effective teaching tool.

After the tour, children and adults were treated to a musical performance: When Bialik Met Fayrouz.
In the beginning, every class in the school will come once a week to the Language Center. One week they’ll speak Arabic, and only Arabic, the next they’ll speak only Hebrew. The classes, of course, are mixed, so each week, some of the kids will be helping the others learn.

“The Language Center,” said Ilanit, “can be a setting to teach all sorts of school lessons. Science, math, social studies. Everything is rooted in language.”

While there is more than enough programming and material for the kids to start enjoying lessons in the language center, some equipment remains to be purchased, including computers for the listening stations. There are plans for further game programming, as well. Eventually, the coordinators plan to introduce English into the schedule, and to program adult language education for teachers, parents and others, to be taught through the Center.