How Tuesdays became my favourite day of the workweek!

When the SEPL flyer arrived via WhatsApp, little did I realise the impact that one simple message was going to have on my day-to-day life.

For someone who was more used to the 9 to 9 of corporate life for over 15 years, I was completely unprepared for the feeling of fulfilment that this programme would bring! I came on board in Iteration 02 and quickly understood that I was part of something truly special.

The course I was assigned to teach was the ‘Advanced Reading Group’ for Kids at the main library on Tuesdays. This course was designed for kids (aged 10–18 years) who are fluent in their English speaking and reading abilities but did not necessarily have access to an environment that encouraged conversation on more complex topics such as Climate Change, Fake News and the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence, etc.

Tuesdays soon became my favourite day of the workweek! In preparation for the course sessions I did research on the ‘topic of the week’ and came up with interesting activities for the students. Every Tuesday I was able to see how students responded to the lessons and were growing in their confidence and their speaking skills over the course of the programme. This honestly gave me such a buzz and a real sense of achievement!

I have seen the programme grow in so many ways from Iteration 02 to our current Iteration 04 (which includes over 165 students!). The enthusiasm of the students and the commitment of our ever-growing number of amazing volunteer teachers makes this such an inspiring environment to be in.

Giving children in Sri Lanka the opportunity to build their confidence in their spoken English ability will create a much-needed environment of meritocracy in the country. That I am a part of this process, makes me feel so proud.

If you would like to be part of our growing volunteer team, please visit our Volunteer page or email us at spokenenglishcpl@gmail.com.