Kosice
Kosice, with a
population of 240,000, is the second-largest city in Slovakia. It is
the leading urban center of eastern
Slovakia
and a transportation hub. A six-hour train ride from
Bratislava,
it can also be reached by plane from the capital. It is a historic
city, dating back to 1230, and has a restored main square, a Gothic
cathedral, and several museums.
The Evangelical Gymnasium J.A. Komensko
The Lutheran high
school is the Evangelical Gymnasium J.A. Komensko. It was founded in
1994 and includes both
elementary and high school students. In the school year 2005-2006, the
school had three American volunteers as well as Slovak teachers of
English. American teachers are asked to teach 1st year
Realia (history and culture of English speaking countries,
especially Great Britain and the United States) and all conversation
classes in the 5-year bilingual program as well as in the last four
years of the 8-year gymnasium program. These conversation classes
may include reading and discussion of abridged or unabridged
literary works as well as selected thematic topics and writing
skills. Conversation classes meet two times per week in each class.
American and British literature is taught to compliment conversation
classes. All teaching is expected to facilitate conversation skills
in preparation for the oral
comprehensive graduating exam, and the writing
skills will help prepare for the written English comprehensive
graduating exam. Limited resources for conversation topics for the
leaving-exam are provided; additional resources are being organized
by the American teachers on site (2005-06). The normal class load
begins at 20 hours/week but could be 2 to 4 hours more. Volunteers
also assist in the library and with a drama group.
The American
teachers are expected to participate in the spiritual life of the
school (attending chapel services, leading devotions when teaching
the first hour of the day, etc.).
The New Maturita (National comprehensive graduating exam)
In 2005, the Slovak government standardized all graduating exams in high
school subjects, including English. As such,
Kosice’s Gymnasium
utilizes their American volunteers to teach extensive year-long
conversation classes. The new Maturita exam for English language
requires students to know specific vocabulary, dialogue, description
and basic comprehension in 25 topics (such as food, multi-cultural
society, family, mass media, health care, etc.). The American
teachers spend their time in classrooms
facilitating conversation among students in these specific areas,
developing their speaking and writing skills to prepare them for the
comprehensive graduating exam in their final year.
Volunteer teachers live in the upper floor of a duplex, a ten-minute walk from the school and near the city center.
Links:
Evangelical Gymnasium J.A. Komensko
Evangelical (Lutheran) Church of the Augsburg Confession in Slovakia