Week 22

This is the final blog for my 20% project.  Today, I would like to talk about my journal in blogging and in my 20 Percent Project.  Last Friday, I presented my project for my class, and I would like to say that I did a nice job.  I have made a Prezi where I talked about what is my project, what I have done in it, and the benefits of it.  My presentation went really good; it was easy to tell what I have done in my project and the video of my girls talking in Arabic showed that I taught them a lot. But I will be honest to say that I was surprised to see others' presentations and their projects.  I was honestly expecting more from the class.  We have been working for all year long and most of students didn't do a good job.

However, today I would like to say that I am so proud to be at this point.  I have learned some new things from doing this project, also I have learned like five phrases in Spanish!!
If you guys would like to see my presentation, here is the URL:
http://prezi.com/zyeouz2kj9u3/a-journey-in-arabic-with-lana-al-mukdad/

Week 21

This week is basically the last week.  This week I am going to present my project.  I was worry a little bit about time, but today I am more comfortable.  I have made a video for my girls, showing that they know Arabic.  My idea first was to make a dialogue where they will say the sentences that they know.  But I had a hard time doing that with them because Monica haven't memorize that much.  I was very frustrating.  Mariela had an idea, which was singing an easy song.  This idea was gonna make my head explode, because the video needs to be done by the next day and I am sure that they, especially Monica, won't be able to memorize the song... Until my Arabic friend "Aya" came with the idea of teaching them the song "Happy Birthday."  I liked the idea, and it was pretty easy.  After that I came up with the idea of the video and three phrases to add after the song.  In that day everything went good.
Here is Thursday has come, tomorrow I am going to present.  Monica still not sure of the other sentence that she is going to say after the song, she can't even say it!!!!!  I was getting mad, but I didn't want to show.  Aya was able to understand how I feel because she felt the same, and she came up with the idea that I also was thinking about.  Which is switching the sentences-make Mareila say Monica's sentence and Monica say Mariela's sentence.  That worked a little bit better with Monica.
However, we were able to finish the video, which is what I want so everything else doesn't matter anymore....
I would like to say thank you for everyone who was keeping up with the newest of my blog.

Week 20

This week was good, not too much work in school, easy homework, but only two exams.  School now is almost over.  I already started counting down.  Sometimes I feel that I don't want school to be over, but we'll come back next year.  I am doing my best right now to save memories with everyone.  Simply by taking photos and then putting them in an album telling a story of everyday.  Life doesn't last forever so that I just want to have something reminds me of everyone, in case anyone will leave.
However, I practiced Arabic with Mariela for a little bit during class time because we could not meet after school.  Now I think it's really funny because every time we plan for a day, something happen so we end up not staying and the following days we will be busy, while in the days before the plan day we have time but it's already over!!
Next week, I will present my project to my class, showing them what I have done.  I really want to show something makes me proud.  Teaching was not easy, especially with Monica.  I will be honest to say that Monica gave me hard time working with her, while I am truly so lucky to have Mariela.  She learn fast, memorize, and pronounce easily.

Week 19

This week is not good as what I thought that it would be.  It did not match with my expectations... This week is so hot, and I am, very busy.  Everyday I am having a test so that everyday I go home really quickly especially that the weather is so hot, and I need more time than usual to do homework and study for tests.  Beside that I am working on other projects such like in chemistry.  There is so many work in school and there is only about 25 days left for school.  I didn't work during this week with Mariela or even Monica.  I think that I am not going to work with Monica anymore, but I will work with Mariela.  I talked to Mariela and she said that we will meet and work next week.  Hopefully nothing will happen and miss up our plans.  The plan is to meet on Wednesday just like what we used to do.

Week 18

Eighteen weeks since I have started my project, Ten weeks since the begin of the second semester.  I will be honest to say that the improvement have been really slow, but it seems that everything will be way better in the next three weeks.  Yesterday, Mariela came up to me and she asked, "Do you still working on your project? Do you wanna teach me more?" I was really happy to hear that.  Then I found out that she asked because sometimes when we play in PE, she wants to tell me something but she doesn't want anyone to hear it .. Therefore she want to tell me in Arabic so that no one ever will understand what we are saying.
We planned to start meeting after school and work just like what we used to do.  Also today in the morning, in PE class, I was reviewing the old phrases with her and also taught me some Spanish.  I really like that Mariela likes Arabic and the Arabic culture.

Week 17

This week is the ninth week since the begin of the second semester, and just like other weeks, I didn't work on the project because my girls does not helping out.  I will be honest to say that I did not even ask them, because I have noticed that they do not want to work so I do not want them to work with me just because they are being nice to me.  Therefore, I would like to say that I am very thankful for them especially Mariela, because she helped me out from the begin of my project; she was there for me and without her I do not really know what I would have done.  I am not even sure that I could have worked in this specific project, because none of the people that I knew in the begin of the year was willing to learn a new language....  I would like to say that I have spent a very nice time working with Mariela, we honestly had a lot of fun, and we could spent more time with each other.

Week 16

This week is over, It's Friday already!!  Eight weeks since the begin of the second semester, and the sixteenth since the begin of the year.  I didn't work on anything this week, And I don't even think that I'll work on anything new.. I don't quit easily, but if the two girls doesn't want to work and learn so I got nothing to do.  I'll just make sure that they know everything I taught them so that I will take a video for them talking in Arabic and that will be the last thing to do.
It's sad that it's over and I really feel bad for that, but however the project is due next month so I will just take it easy and be proud of what I have done so far.