I'm Ella and I'm from France ! After several adventures, I finally arrived in Poland! However, I only had two days at school because the winter holidays were starting at the end of the week. The school is located in Zlotoria, a rural village in the Powiat of Białystok. During these first two days, I had the opportunity to introduce myself to all the classes and also play with some of the children. This allowed me to make initial contact despite the language barrier, and they are great! I am observing a lot at the moment so that I can find my place. The teachers are very kind to me and I like them a lot. Sometimes they are too generous (they give me mountains of cakes).

This week took place in Warsaw as part of the ESC training programme.

It was a really interesting week because we learnt a lot about others, but also about ourselves. We also had the opportunity to learn about Polish culture and pick up a few words. The activities were very well organised and gave me some inspiration for working with children. We were able to visit the city, and what a city it is! Between the modern city and the old town, there is something for everyone! For me, the most important thing was the people I met! We were a great group!

I think this training course helped me understand why I am here and what I can contribute. I am also very grateful to the ESC programme and my school coordinator for making this opportunity possible.

This week was complicated because I was unfortunately sick. But I had the opportunity to prepare a presentation for my mentor's university. The aim is to present my project and suggest an activity at the end. Also, I started looking for activities for children. It wasn't an easy task because I don't have much experience with children, so Pinterest is my best friend.Despite my illness, I was able to discover Polish specialities! It was really good, I loved it! I was also able to join the other volunteers at a games evening organised by an association. It permit to get to know each other . :)

This week was back to school! So I started by presenting my project at university (I was really stressed), but it went well. I talked about my educational background, my experiences and why I do volunteer work. Then I finished by suggesting an activity related to the ESC. The aim was for them to choose a project they liked from the website and explain why they chose it. It was a good experience, but I think I prefer working with children. :) Maybe because I feel more comfortable. Over the next few days, we got to know the children better by playing with them. I also met three autistic pupils whose teaching assistant is my mentor. It was interesting because they are three very different people. I feel more and more comfortable at school, I love the atmosphere. I also had the opportunity to try the sauna in Bialystok. I tried swimming at -10 degrees, which was very, very, very cold...

This week was Valentine's Day week! All week long, we prepared activities and decorations related to the theme. For example, I prepared a box for the children to leave a love note inside. The students organized a sale of Valentine's Day-related items, with the proceeds going to a charity. There was also Fat Thursday, where the goal was to eat as many donuts as possible. This day signifies the last Thursday before the first day of Lent. At the end of the week, a party was organised, which was really fun! :)

This week was really interesting because I got to do several activities :) First, for the past month in kindergarten, we've been teaching the children a French song! They learn very quickly and have a very good French accent :) Then I was able to organize a game in the common room about the most famous monuments in France. The idea was to identify the monuments from pictures. Everyone really enjoyed this activity, which makes me want to do more activities like this. I also played volleyball (I'm really not the best but Im try haha ). I had the opportunity to read a chapter from the French book Le Petit Nicolas, and it was great! I love reading, so I had a wonderful time with the children. It was an opportunity for them to learn new French words :) Finally, I was able to give a presentation about myself, my life in France, and why I am here with grades 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8. It was really great because they were really curious and interested! Then at the end, I suggested a game about French culture, where the goal was to guess what something was in French and English. It was a double game because they were learning French and I was learning Polish :)

This week is the arrival of spring! We were able to take the children outside and enjoy the sunshine! (Finally!) For the past two weeks, I have been trying to organise two activities per week! In the common room, for example, I suggest several board games and try to get all the children involved :) In kindergarten, I try to teach the children French using various themes. This week we learned about animals in French! The children were really attentive, curious and happy to learn! That motivates me even more :) At the end, I organised a mask workshop where they could each choose an animal and decorate it. It was a great time for them :)

This week we started with an activity to mark 21 March. The children coloured in a drawing of a sock using a variety of colours. This activity symbolises the acceptance of differences and the celebration of diversity suggested by my mentor.

I’ve also started a postcard project! I’ve decided to run this project with two schools in France: the one I went to as a child ( in La Vendée ) and another in Quinguamps, Brittany. I started this week with the 1st graders. Next, it’ll be the turn of the children in kindergarten. I’m really pleased to be able to start this project with them; I think it’s a lovely project!

At the end of the week, I led an activity on numbers in French. I started with a repetition exercise, followed by a memorisation exercise. To finish, I set a written exercise where the aim was to find the number indicated. It was fun and cool! :)

During the 10th week, I was sick. Then, during the 11th week, we organised some spring-themed activities. In fact, in the kindergarten, we created a large tree on which the children had to paint and draw flowers.

Next, Tuesday was a day dedicated to spring; the school had organised a walking competition and a bonfire. It was a lovely time for the children, and we had a chance to talk.

After that, we continued creating postcards with the 2nd graders. I'm pleased with the result :)

Finally, on Friday I was able to visit the English classes. I organized an “Agree or Disagree” game, where the children were encouraged to think critically and share their personal opinions on different topics. Each statement sparked lively discussions, and the students took turns explaining whether they agreed or disagreed, often justifying their answers with simple arguments. This activity not only helped them practice their speaking skills, but also boosted their confidence in expressing themselves in English in a fun and interactive way.

The last two weeks have passed quickly as it was the Easter holidays. :) During Week 12, we finished the postcards with the 2th grade . I also helped out in English lesson with 6th grade to revise the present perfect. An Easter-themed product sale was also organised to raise funds for a cancer charity. Then there was Autism Awareness Day, when we were all supposed to wear something blue. Some people showed up in full blue outfits like shirts, shoes while others just had a small detail, like a bracelet or a badge. My mentor, an AVS, took a few minutes in kindergarten to explain what autism is, talking about the differences in how people think, communicate, and experience the world.

During Week 13, we started making postcards in kindergarten. We decided with the teacher to base them on an Easter theme, as it is a very important religious tradition in Poland. I then asked the children to draw their own self-portraits. It’s not an easy task, as we have to draw 27 postcards and there are only 12 of us. So I have to keep the children focused on the activity.

This week, we finished the postcard activity in the kindergarten. Beforehand, I had prepared a variety of stickers so that the children could stick them on their cards. The aim of this activity was to enable them to express their tastes and interests in a fun and creative way.

The children were free to choose the images they liked : animals, food, objects or activities and arrange them as they wished. This not only encouraged their independence but also their ability to make choices and express themselves through a personal creation.

We also went to the town of Michalowo to prepare for the commun activity. In the morning, we visited the local school to introduce ourselves and suggest activities about our country. We spent the first lesson with 4th grade and the second lesson with 8th grade . I proposed an activity on French culture where the aim was to guess the translation of a French word. The other volunteers also organised a quiz on the culture of different countries and a speed game. It was a good time! The children really enjoyed it :)

This week was special for me because I went to Wasilkow School to teach a cooking class! We made ‘rose des sables ’! It’s a mixture of cereal and chocolate that we put in the fridge. The children loved it! The children loved taking part in this activity: they were enthusiastic, curious and very involved in every stage of the preparation. It was a completely new experience for me because the school is much bigger and I meet new children. :)

Next, we had a creative activity in the nursery! It was a spring-themed activity aimed at creating pretty silhouettes of butterflies, ladybirds, dragonflies, flowers, bees and birds. To do this, the children used paint and foam stamps – a fun technique suited to their age. This allowed them to experiment with shapes, colours and textures whilst developing their creativity.

This was a particularly interesting experience for me, as it was the first time I’d led an activity with such young children. I discovered a different way of interacting with them, paying closer attention to their needs, their pace and the way they express themselves. Their spontaneity and enthusiasm were truly touching, and I really enjoyed sharing this moment with them. :)

This week, we received postcards from the French primary school in the kindergarten. The children were delighted to discover the childreb’ portraits and their descriptions. This sparked a great deal of enthusiasm and curiosity in the class. They enjoyed looking at the photos, comparing the information and discussing the different presentations. This lovely moment of sharing helped to strengthen their interest in the French language and to forge a bond with the children from the french school.

We also celebrated 3 May at the school in Poland.

On this occasion, the children learnt about Constitution Day on 3 May, an important Polish national holiday. They took part in various cultural activities in a festive and friendly atmosphere.
At last, we have one final day to prepare for the common activity, which is coming up very soon! We’ve had a chance to do our final practises , and the first day will take place at Zlotoria School! :)

17th Week : The 17th week was quickly because the 8th grade had exams for three days. This week, I introduced a game in the kindergarden class: Dobble. It’s a famous observation game in France, where the aim is to spot the matching symbol on two cards as quickly as possible. I’ve adapted the game to focus on France. It wasn’t easy to teach, but the children did very well. I also introduced a memory game where the children had to find matching pairs of pictures by using their memory and observation.

18th Week : This week we started by receiving the postcards for the Year 4 pupils! However, I’ll be sending them next week :) We’ve also started our commun activities at Zlotoria School, SOSW and School No. 16. So the first day was at Zlotoria School! And what a surprise! I was a bit nervous because my school was a test , but it went really well! The coomon activity is a combination of a bingo game and a hotel. We start by introducing ourselves and our countries. We are each given a key, and each key represents an activity for a particular country. We then play a game of bingo , where each ball represents a question about a different country. This helps us learn a bit more about the countries. The students were then divided into eight groups and took part in the eight activities organised by the volunteers. It was a great week because it gave us the chance to show the volunteers around our schools and meet them with children. :)

This week, we finished the common activity with the last three schools, bringing this wonderful experience to an end. It was truly a great moment spent with the volunteers, who have demonstrated such enthusiasm and devotion during the entire project. We had the opportunity to meet other children, share meaningful moments together, and discover more about one another. It was such a pleasure to see their reactions, excitement, and curiosity. Their smiles and enthusiasm made this experience even more special and memorable for everyone involved.

I also gave the postcards sent by the school in Guingamp, France. The children were happy and interested to receive messages from another country. It was a nice way to share and learn more about a different culture.

Finally, in kindergarten , we are preparing the performance for the picnic on 14 June. The children will be singing two songs in French in front of the families and teachers.

This week we had three days of school because there were public days off in Poland. We started by organising a picnic for Children’s Day. The teachers had brought food and toys for the children. It was a lovely time for both the teachers and the children :) I also spent some time with the little ones in the common room, where we played lots of games (colouring, dodgeball, etc.)

I also visited the city of Gdańsk and what a city! I’m always pleasantly surprised by the cities in Poland! It’s so colourful and lively!