Last week we were in Da Li Elementary (primary) School running an English camp. We had lots of fun and the children really enjoyed learning English. This week we're running the camp in a small community centre. We have some of the same children and some new ones, most of which have quite a hard life at home. Many have parents who work from 10am until 10pm and so they don't get to see them much. They spend alot of time on the streets and in the parks. These children can easily end up in the street gangs which can be very dangerous. We are trying to give them somewhere else to go and the possibility of a better future. I can now answer some of your questions about school. The school we were in was quite big with lots of people wandering around all the time. The play areas are open to the public and there were always lots of children around, even though it is the holidays. The school isn't that different to those in England, although I'm told the lessons aren't as creative and fun. The class sizes are about the same, with most children sitting at single desks, all facing the same way. Due to the heat, children are given lots of water breaks and they're not allowed to play out in the sun for long. During the holidays, there are lots of extra activities in school because many parents are at work.
