Reflection on Volley Ball Experience

In the third term of my time in IB1, I decided to go and try out for the volleyball team.  Until then, I had only participated in volley ball recreationally.  Still, I like to think that I was good at the sport.

We had three coaches who helped us improve our general technique and positioning on the court.  Even in P.E. classes we used the lesson to practice our volley ball.  Almost all of the boys in IB1 participated in the volley ball team.  Our first match was at home against ISU.  It was supposedly a friendly tournament but all of us on the team really wanted to win.  We came out victorious.  Our spirits were at a maximum high when we beat them bad in the first set.  Maybe our over confidence was too soon as they came back in the second set.  In the final set we decided to cool our thoughts and just go back to basics.

During practice sessions, I learnt a lot about the different techniques to apply in volleyball. For example, I learnt how to properly smash the ball into the opponent’s court.  The coaches also taught us how to serve the ball properly.  In the end, it all comes down to consistency.  The more I practiced these techniques the better my game was becoming.  I must admit that when I signed up for volley ball I did not think I was going to like it as a sport.  However after learning new techniques, I began to warm up to the sport.  In practice, I also learnt that unity in the team is key to success in this particular sport.  In many other sports, one superstar of the team can take matters into their own hands.  Here, it is either a team effort or a terrible defeat.

Our second match was against Heritage International.  We had a good feeling judging that we won our first game ever in volleyball.  They had an outdoor court which was located on the field.  This was to our disappointment because we had never played anywhere but indoor.  As we had arrived late, we began the match right away.  Heritage was an excellent team.  They obviously had a lot of prior experience which was lacking in our squad.  Despite our best efforts, Heritage demolished us.  This was a bit of a rude awakening.  So now we knew there was real competition.

For the next game two members, David and I were out because we had an IT exam to complete.  It was held at ISU.  The team were not victorious and I believe if we were there circumstances would have changed.  Finally, the last match that would determine our place in the final had come.  It was against Heritage again but at KISU this time.  The tension was high.  We knew what this team could do if we were not careful.  At this point in the season, every one of us was at most skilled in the sport.  It had been almost five weeks of training.  We wanted to win this game more than any other before.  Unfortunately, the outcome did not favour us.

Throughout the whole experience, I generally learnt that nothing is easy.  Also, there is nothing wrong with not understanding something.  You just have to try it out first and see what its about before making judgments.  For the next season of volley ball I plan to up my game even harder.  I want to improve at the basic fundamentals.

CAS Collaborative Project: Reflection on Refugee Law Project

 Refugee Law Project

Located at the heart of Old Kampala, Refugee Law Project (RLP) has a modest but firm building structure.  There are three plots that RLP own as operating headquarters.  The office that I was based in was on Plot 9.  My supervisor was Ms Winfred Agabo.  However, due to her irregularity with attendance because of the nature of her job, I worked with three other people; Mr Robert, Mr Charles and Ms Ignaciana.  They are the ones who taught me the basics of proper teaching and student management.  Ms Ignaciana and Mr Robert have been at the institution for over four years while Mr Charles was an intern who was studying education at Makerere University.

I have had minimal experience actually conducting and teaching a lesson, let alone to adults some much older than me.  One can imagine then that it was sometimes intimidating.  I remember the first day when I was introduced.  On that day, the school decided to give out identification cards to its students.  The students were to take a passport photograph in the order of names on the class register.  I learnt that there were four levels of English Classes.  I was assigned to the literacy class which was had the largest amount of students.  It was the most basic class so my skills could be appreciated more than say if I was to teach level four English that required a few more qualifications.  It was a good start.

The hardest part of the project was coming up with enough teaching content to fill a lesson of two hours.  During planning, I consulted a lot with Charles, whom I had become very fond of.  He told me that the first time he was here he had problems with the literacy class.  I distinctly remember a quote he said, “It will be easy but not so easy.”  This resonated for much of the first lesson.  But nevertheless, everything generally went off without a hitch. The lesson was about telling time and so I decided that in order to create a more visual aspect a real clock was needed. The students responded to this very well.

They had some complaints though.  In a meeting that I attended for all staff and class leaders, I was informed that I was not being loud enough.  This was to my absolute surprise because I sincerely felt that I was being very audible.  This is something that did improve over time and it was acknowledged and appreciated by the students. 

Working at RLP taught me a lot about the real world.  The “real” world is not as bad as it seems.  The experience I gained here was truly a maturing process for me.  I tasted the fruit of semi-hard labour and all I can say is in the future, I hope I can help organisations like RLP to keep doing what they do in society. With that I conclude by saying, I never expected to learn so much while teaching.

Lesson Plans For the Project

 Lesson One: Telling the Time

• ·         Bring in a clock that shall be used to demonstrate the different parts of the clock face.
• ·         Start off with explanation of the four main parts namely,

   Quarter past

    Half Past

    O’clock 

    Quarter to

• ·         Then go on to explain the difference from ‘to’ and ‘past’ on the clock face
• ·         Give out an the exercise given in the EFA textbook

Lesson Two: Things in a Bathroom

·      

            Explaining all of these items in detail.

Basin, Comb, Mirror, Slippers, Soap, Sponge, Toothbrush, Toothpaste, Towel, Deodorant, Brush, Sink, Water, Taps

·        Explanation of all of these verbs:

Brush

Clean

Put

Use

Wash

Wear

·        Make a table of things in the bathroom with the name, use and location in the bathroom

·         Make an exercise which is to be photo copied.