Training actually began in Philadelphia at the hotel where we held the staging event 07-June-2005 to 09-June-2005.
Our training site is in Techiman Ghana, this is a city with a population of about 50,000 people. Techiman is a town on the Kumasi-Tamale Road about 35 miles northeast of Sunyani. There is a huge market that takes place here every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. The market in Techiman is one of the bigest in Ghana. Techiman is a good city for the training, people are nice and they have had training here before so they know about the Peace Corps. Techiman is also an easy city to get around, there are a couple of nice hotels in Techiman. There are also some nice tourist attractions in the area.
This training was specific for the Education group, so there is an emphasis on practice teaching.
We arrived in Ghana 10-June-2005 and were in Accra through the 15th. After which we departed for one week on Vision Quest. On 22-June-2005 we arrived at the Dery Hotel in Techiman to begin the major phase of our training. On the 24-June-2005 Home Stay began.
On the 25-June-2005 we began our Survival Twi which would last for two weeks. We also had sessions on teaching/learning styles and American vs. Ghanaian schools. Lesson planning and processing of the first Trainee Directed Activity (TDA).
We had a cultural fair on Monday the 27th. On Tuesday we began the teaching practice with Peer Teaching. On Wednesday we talked about our Education Philosophies. Thursday we had our first exposure to Ghanaian Senior Secondary School (SSS) students with Micro Teaching. Friday we had sessions on the Economy of Ghana, Bike Maintenance, and our first of many Medical Sessions. Saturday we broke up into groups and went various locations in Techiman and talked about HIV/AIDS with people involved in fighting the epidemic here in Africa. In the afternoon we were introduced to the Practicum teaching program. Sunday 3-August-2005 was one of very few free days.
The week of the 4th we began our Practicum teaching while continuing with our Survival Twi and looking forward to our Site Announcements which took place on Friday 8th. Needless to say Friday was an exciting day with site announcements, a medical session on nutrition, a Language Fair, and Happy Hour. Saturday we talked about "Traditional Beliefs and Symbolism" and we began our Site Specific Language Sessions. Sunday we had our first Excursion to Kintampo waterfalls and the "Center of Ghana".
The week of the 11th we continued with our Practitum teaching and began our site specific language sessions. On Friday the 15th we a session on classroom management and the History of Ghana as well as the Medical session.
The week of the 18th was our final week of Practicum teaching and we were compelled to do HIV/AIDS education sessions. On the 22nd we had a session on the PC Education Project Plan and "Safety and Security". Saturday we continued with our site specific language and Sunday we had our second Excursion to (Tano Sacred Grove?).
The week of the 25th was the contact persons workshop and site visit. We also had HIV/AIDS and GYD sessions as well as Traditional Nite and Crossing Cultures. Thursday we departed to our sites with our headmasters/counterparts. To be continued...