On an ordinary Monday morning in September, a sign appears at 25 Kazikowskiego Street, announcing, “Registration for English Lessons.” Former students, some who are like old friends, climb the stairs to find smiling Americans awaiting them in Gateway to English’s cafe room. There they are matched with an appropriate teacher and class, and asked to sign the requisite documents by the secretaries. New students also appear up the stairs, somewhat unsure of how to proceed, but after preliminary conversations to determine their English level, they begin to feel more at ease speaking a foreign language.
The following week, a fresh school year begins, and the teaching team brings out their best-polished lessons. As the year progresses, the lessons become perhaps less shiny, but more practical, as students dig in and slowly become more confident in speaking English. This confidence in a foreign language is part of GTE’s mission statement, which isTo provide professional English lessons in a conversational setting, empowering our students to speak English confidently, accurately, and naturally. Our ultimate goal is to show the love of Christ through all of our interactions, so that our students would come to know Christ.’
Every year, the teachers wrestle with the dual goals of teaching excellent English lessons and showing Christ’s love to students. Sometimes these goals feel at odds with each other, but often, excellent teaching is found to be a part of loving our students well. Asking good questions and listening well is a huge part of helping students feel comfortable to try speaking and often talking openly about their private lives. GTE isn’t a counseling center, nor do we try to manipulate our students into hearing the Gospel, yet, the Holy Spirit gives us many opportunities to share truth about God.
Over the years, our students have shown us hospitality by welcoming us into the community of Minsk Mazowiecki. Through many hours spent together, they have helped us better understand Polish culture, and to feel like Minsk Mazowiecki is our home, too. This is an enormous gift, one which those who began GTE could only have dreamed of. Our hope at GTE is to give back to our Polish students and neighbors some of what they have given to us. Our desire is that students can spread the atmosphere of warmth and care they experience at GTE with their friends and neighbors, breaking down more barriers in Poland’s traditionally cold social climate.
Volunteer teachers at GTE are a significant part of providing the excellent teaching and approachable learning atmosphere our students have come to expect. Without their faithful lessonplanning and coffee-making, the school would cease to exist.
Through their hours of conversation lessons, the teachers often develop deep friendships with students that continue even after the teachers move back to their home away from Poland.
The teachers are also known for the events they put on, specifically Small Talk, a monthly gathering on a Friday evening that allows students and other friends of our American community to come hang out and practice speaking English together. The final Small Talk of the year is a picnic in the GTE parking lot on a Saturday in late May. A folding sign appears once again at Kazikowskiego 25, inviting one and all to games and snacks to celebrate another year together of learning English. Happy children eat many cookies and have their faces painted, while adults chat about summer vacation plans with the teachers. In the end, the sign is folded up, the party scrapsare swept away, and everyone rests after a profitable year of learning English.
