In the name of Allah
Dear Learning Circle Partners,
The Group Survey will be different somehow. Proudly, I introduce Motafawiqeen Group. I hope you will like their work. I hope you will enjoy reading their project about our school.
Zafer:
Salam! I am Zafer, 15 years old. I’m a Syrian boy, who lives in the beautiful Damascus! My family is tiny: me and my mother! I am fifteen, and I go to Al Basel School for Gifted Students, Motafawiqeen School as we call it on iEARN Forums. My hobbies and interests are writing, music, pets (I’m especially into the ones keep in an aquarium although this might sound a little boring), making new friends, playing the flute, playing the violin, playing the violin, and I forgot one more thing… Playing the violin!!! I have been introduced to iEARN by Miss Samah and getting involved in the projects 2 years ago, I wish my name sounds familiar, and so far, I think it’s amazing! I decided to take part in the Learning Circle for many aims. The most important one is to make new friends and to represent my country and society, just the way they are , away from bad stereotypes. I am very eager to contact and interact with any student in the world like me to discuss and share ideas. I am VERY interested to have a pen friend who keeps in touch, so if anyone is interested too, please just drop me an e-mail on . By the way, I am a very good replier, and I promise I will respond and write back to every single message sent to me! Looking forward to hearing from you soon…
Susan:
Hi! I am Susan from Syria. I am 14 years old. I am proud of being Syrian. I like swimming and English. I began reading in English since I was 5, and I still do. I hope we will meet, talk, be cooperate together, contact each other, and introduce ourselves and our community. I am looking forward to reading yours.
Bassel:
Merhaba. I am Bassel and I live in Damascus, Syria. I like to talk, meet, and introduce myself to people & students from all around the world online. I’m 16 years old, and like my peers, I like making new friendships and going to parties. I would like to get more knowledge and learn more about the world issues.
Farah:
Hello! My name is Farah. I am 16 years old. I am in AL-MOTAFAWIQEEN school. I am from Syria. I like reading stories and dancing. I like nature and I try to respect the environment and to protect it from pollution. I am glad to take a part in this project because I want to make friends from other countries to know about their culture and traditions. In future, I want to be a cloth designer in the fashion world. I also want to travel around the world. I will take my designs from nature to make strange designs.
Hamsa:
Hello, I am Hamsa. My name means ‘whisper’. I am 15. I am Syrian. My hobbies are: drawing, playing the violin, and writing. I like listening to classical music, too. I have many good friends in my community from different ages. And I hope to have friends from different countries.
Iman:
Hello. My name is Iman. I’m 16 years old. I’m Syrian. I live with my large family. I can play the keyboard and the guitar, but I adore drawing. It makes my imagination as hot as thefire! By drawing, I can create things that have never been seen and express my feelings and ideas. I have two turtles. I want to be a vet because I think that man will continue destroying our mother nature and the rain forests which provides the safest place for animals. I would like to share my beliefs and ideas with people so we will help each other to protect our world and make it a better place to live in.
Bashar:
Hello! My name is Bashar. I am 15 years old. I am really into computer, reading English novels, sending e-mails, swimming and making true friends. My favorite subjects are English, Physics, Chemistry and Math. My e-mails are , I like writing ‘reflections’ and doing projects. I have got many, many, many aims and I want to make them true in future. I am sure I will “INSHA’ALLAH”!
Amjad:
Hi, my name is Amjad and I am 16 years old. I am from Damascus, the oldest and most beautiful remaining capital in the world. I like Classical Music, because it is beautiful and delightful. I really wish to meet people from other countries.
Nasser:
Hi! I’m Nasser from Damascus, Syria. I’m new at Motafewiqeen School,but I met really nice people, and I feel as if I have been here for long. I adore reading, singing and playing the piano. I like Jazz, art, and I‘m interested in psychology. I like talking to foreigners, and I have friends from many different countries. I wish you would be my new ones!
Loujien:
Hi. My name is Loujien. I’m 14 years old. I like my school very much, as I have good rapport with my classmates here. I live in Damascus and I was born in it. I like Damascus very much because it is a wonderful city. In my spare times, I play basketball and go swimming. I study English because I like to learn foreign languages. Sometimes I surf the web. When I grow up, I will be a doctor, because I like helping people.
Laila:
Hi! I’m Laila, a 14 year old girl. I’m in grade 9. I like to chat online. My favorite sport is gym. I like dancing ballet & listening to Classical Music. I have one sister and one brother. Reading is my favorite hobby; my favorite author is J.K Rowling. I’ve got two hamsters. I’m very interested in the pets’ world. have some friends in other countries, and I’d like to have more. My e-mail is
Omar:
Hello! My name is Omar. I am 14 years old. I prefer sending e-mails to sending ordinary letters, or talking on the phone. I feel that it is easier to talk through a machine than to talk to people face to face, because I have problems talking with strangers. I think this project will help me share my ideas with my peers all around the world. Contact me on
Hazem:
Hello! My name is Hazem. I am 15 years old. My favorite subjects are Arabic and History. I like listening to music and playing soccer. My family is very big – I have 10 brothers and sisters. We are very happy together. My family encourages me to join my friends in this projects. I like it because I like talking to foreigners online. I would like to have a lot of friends. Please write to me on .
Reem:
Hello, my name is Reem. I’m 14 years old. I like swimming, listening to music and singing. I live in a flat in Damascus. I am a student. I live with my family. We are happy together. I have got lots of aims. I think that I am going to have a lot of friends by working with iEARN.
Sara:
Hi! I am Sara. I’m 13 years old. I live in Damascus. I’m a student in grade 9. I like music and movies. I love meeting people from all over the world, and I think this project will help me to make this dream true! I wish to have many friends from different countries, so please e-mail me on
Maria:
Hi! My name is Maria. I am 15. I live in Syria. I am interested in sports and music, and I like soccer, and modern music. My favorite subjects are Math and English - of course… That’s why I’m involved in this project. Besides, I enjoy learning new languages. I am a very loyal friend, I respect friendship. I like to have many friends, so e-mail me on . I’m awaiting your messages…
Fadi:
Hi. My name is Fadi. I’m 16 years old. I’m from Palestine, the land of revolutions. But I live in Syria, the home of civilizations. I’m proud to be one of Motafawiqeen School. I like playing volleyball, watching TV, swimming, and listening to all kinds of music. I’m one of those people who like to make new friends. That’s why I participated in this project, so I hope you’ll find me nice.
Mostafa:
Hi! My name is Mostafa. I am Syrian. I am 16 years old. I am an easy going boy. I like people who are direct, frank, and honest with me. I am very sociable and I like dealing with people in other countries, but I can’t stand communicating with egotistical people. I am very ambitious because I want to be the best in the world. My favorite hobbies are playing soccer and swimming. I like music and I play the ‘Ud ( the famous Arabic musical instrument). I wish to be the best ‘Ud player. I need to have real friends because the best thing is to find a real friend who likes you and supports you when you need help.
Eias:
Hello. I’m Eias. I’m 14 years old. I like sports, playing on the computer and watching TV. I traveled to many countries like Saudi Arabia and Morocco. My favorite hobby is watching movies for fun. I want to work on this project to learn more.
Nour:
Hi! My name is nour (I’m a girl). I’m 14 years old. I like playing computer games, listening to music, chatting & reading. My favorite class subjects are Biology & English. I’ve got two brothers & two sisters. I started learning the piano since I was 6. I like to have new friends from all around the world. You can e-mail me on:
Ammar:
My name is Ammar and I’m 14 years old. I’m a student in grade 9. I enjoy listening to music and playing computer games. I like to have more friends from other countries.
Our School
Our school is near Kafarsooseh sq. in Damascus-Syria. It’s surrounded by buildings from all sides. People live in flats around.
It’s called Al-Bassel high school for gifted students. It has no significant color! Actually, it is white.
The School (direct look)
It consists of three floors. There are 8 classrooms in each floor. On the first floor you see the principal's room, Mr. Ne'ma Massouh; the principal assistant's room, Mr. Noah Kkanjar; thescientific lab; the computer lab and the activities room. The library & the teacher’s room are on the second floor.
Our classrooms have no computers; we just have 13 computers (Pentium 4) in the computer lab.
Our desks are wooden. They’re somehow wide (each is for 2 students).
There are about 16 desks in each class…
The library contains a lot of interesting books that help us doing our researches.
The scientific lab is well prepared with needed tools & items.
We watch documentaries in the activities room & meet Miss Samah Al-Jundi there, too.
We newly started to make a small garden, but our students keep ruining it.
We have a basket ball court.
There are about 390 students in our school. Each class has about 30 students.
The students stay in class while teachers of different subjects come & go.
We don’t have lockers; we carry our books every day to school.
We study 9 subjects (together): Physics, Chemistry, Math, Arabic, English, Biology, Arts, Games, & Religion Education.
We love our teachers! We have good rapport with them!
We stay at school for 6 to7 hours.
We have supplementary classes. We have special information in them.
By:
Laila Al-Hariri & Nour Daoud
Al-Motafawiqeen School
Damascus, iEARN Syria
Time Management
Dear Learning Circle Partners,
I am glad to have this chance to talk to you and to get to know you. I am Maria Maksoud, Motafawiqeen School, Damascus, iEARN Syria.
Our teacher of English, Miss Samah, assigned the following questions. Please read my answers. I hope to read yours.
- How many school lessons do you have per day? How long do you stay in school?
In our school, everyday we have six lessons. But on Sundays and Tuesdays we have eight lessons, because we have two supplementary lessons. We stay in school five hours in normal days but on Sundays and Tuesdays we stay six hours. Fridays & Saturdays are weekends.
- When does your school begin? How many semesters does the school year have? What school vacations do you have?
The school’s bell rings at 7:20 am, and the first lesson starts at 7:30 am. We have two semesters in the school year. We have a vacation of about fifteen days between the first and the second semester. Also we have a few days off during the school year like the Christmas, the Easter, the New Year, the Feast of Breaking, the Greater Bairam, the Workers Day, the Martyrs Day, Teachers Day, Mothers Day.
- How long is your way to school? Which means of transport do you use? How long dose it take you to get home?
My school is about four kilometers away from my home. I go to school by autobus. It takes about 15 minutes in the morning and 30 minutes in the afternoon.
- How much free time do you have per day / per week?
At least I have one hour per day. And one day every week.
- How much homework do you usually have to do? How long dose it take you to do it?
I have four or five homework maximum everyday. It takes four or five hours of continues working.
- Are you in sports / music club? How often do you practice?
I was in the volleyball school team in the eighth class. We used to train twice a week, but now no more volleyball!
- Do you take part in social or community work?
Yes, I do. I like to take part in each social and community work I hear about. But unfortunately we do not have community service!
- What do you do at your weekend?
I go to the club in the church and I go to visit my relatives and friends and sometimes I read stories.
- What do you do to help at home?
In winter I usually make my bed after I wake up, prepare the food, cook sometimes, I help my brother doing his homework, but in summer I help my mother doing the housework, so I wash dishes, tide the rooms, dust the furniture, try to learn how to cook and many other things.
- Do you have to take care of pets?
I like pets but I don’t like to have it at home and take care of it, because where I live is not big enough.
- Make a short description of a normal day in your life?
Usually I wake up early at quarter past six. I wash my face then I have my breakfast. Next I go to school at five to seven. I arrived at school at ten past seven. I go back home at one o’clock. I get dressed then I prepare the lunch for my brother and me. We eat while we are watching TV. Sometimes I have a short nap. When my mother comes from her work she wakes me up. I talk with her and I tell her what happened with me during the day. After that I do homework. When I finish, I help my brother then I do something for fun. Most times I work on the computer. At nine o’clock I have dinner with my family then I watch TV. Finally I go to sleep at ten o’clock.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Regards.
Maria Maksoud, Damascus, iEARN Syria.
Our Fieldtrip
On the 10th day of October, our biology teacher decided to take us to Al-Hameh Bridge where Barada River runs under, as a field trip. He told us what to bring, & what to do there.
Miss Samah, our teacher of English made a brainstorm class for this, to teach us how to do the fieldtrip well and how to write “Reflection”.
She wants us to make the fieldtrip a real chance to learn how to observe things around us.
On Tuesday morning at 10:00 am, we were all waiting for the bus driver. We were ready and enthusiastic to start the experience. The containers to put in the sample, the sieves and nets to fetch insects, food, water, & a camera. At about 11:30 we reached the place. We walking for ten minutes then we found the river.
It was horrible. It was so dirty, & boggy. It smelled bad, but we got down & our pants were VERY wet.
We spent nearly one hour walking in the river, looking for living-creatures. We caught frogs, toadstools, spiders, butterflies, a crab, & other stuff.
We were eager to get out of the cold water, but when we got out there was a surprise, our feet made crunchy sounds every time we walked. We were amazed when we saw what was in our shoes. There were black limpets stuck on the bottom of our shoes. That thing was really disgusting.
When we were on our way back, one of the friends who is called Rami, slipped down on the ground because his legs were stuck in a thorny wire. He was unhappy but he seemed funny.
There were people who made funny acts during the fieldtrip.
We liked that!
We were never late, because there was always a person with a stick behind!!…
That was unpleasant for us...
Our friend Esber kept insisting to take him pictures making the “Sahha” Bottled-Water advertisement.
In the bus we kept singing, laughing, dancing, & thanking the teacher for this incredible trip, and asking him to do it more & more.
Thank you teacher Omran for this special fieldtrip, thank you Mama Samah for helping us doing this special project.
This project was done by:
Laila Al-Hariri
Nour Daoud
Al-Motafawiqeen School
Damascus, Syria
In the name of Allah
We are what we value
Family Ties
Dearest students,
Let us cooperate to be life-long learners. Let us know how to keep on learning after the "formal" education is completed. Let us learn how to bridge what we read in the school textbook and our everyday life. Let us do our first project together to make schoolwork more like real work.
I am sure you will find Project-Based Learning easy, tempting and competitive. What are we going to do? Simply, we will answer the questions below then write our answers in any shape: paragraph, questions & answers. By the way, you may add your comments, stories and "salt & pepper". Do not forget to introduce yourself and add photos. By doing this project we will discover how much we value our families and who we are accordingly.
1- How many people are there in your family?
2- How often does all family meet or gather in a day? When?
3- Do your grandparents live with you?
4- How often do you visit your grandparents, uncles, aunts…?