The big quiz

Presentation
This big quiz was set up for the first time this year by Laura Caruso and Francesca Gregory (Africa Trust Volunteers – Jan-Jun 2007) This was a very popular and successful project which saw local junior schools pupils initially competing with their schools and the winners going on to represent their schools at a grand event where prizes for the schools and the children were awarded.

This project aims to improve basic literacy levels through a challenging competition which would provide adequate motivation to increase the use of TACCO library and computer centre. It is easy to organize as you have only to schedule the dates with the schools and then define the quiz questions. Initially there were 2 written sections: Spelling and Grammar. For the second edition, Kathryn and I designed a new format with 3 sections described below:
-Spelling: a first part written and a second part oral whereby each of the participant has to spell out one word loud so that the assembly can judge by itself if the answers are correct or not. In case of mistake, Kathryn was calling for someone on the floor to give the correct answer. That is why this was probably the most lively part.
-Grammar: exclusively written part with 5 sub-sections: irregular verbs, antonyms, plural, synonyms, and nationalities.
-Comprehension:
*visual: we show them for one minute about 10 flags; they have one minute to memorize them; then, we select 3 flags that we show them; they have to write the name of which corresponding countries.
*reading: a text is read to them; they are given the text on paper to follow better; then, 3 questions about the excerpt were asked them.
*listening: an article of a junior encyclopedia was read; this time, they do not have the article written so that they have to listen up very carefully; then, they also have to listen carefully to the questions as they are not been written.

Visit of the 3 Junior Schools of Jachie
Even though the quiz is opened to every Junior School in Jachie, the private schools do not want to participate. The reason is very simple: they do not want to take the risk to lose against a public school, as it can make the parents think that free public schools can be better for their children than expensive private ones. But of course, in every school, they are outstanding pupils. And it is therefore such a shame that the private schools dread this kind of competition. We can maybe hope to convince them in the near future.

Let’s go through the 3 public schools we visited with some pictures:

Anglican School: First one for us. As a result, we were a bit impressed by the numbers of spectators (all the classes of the school). Also we were hoping that our questions were well adapted to the level of JSS pupils.
DA2: we would particularly like to thank the teachers of DA2 as they were very interested by the quiz and very nice with us. One of them asked for a sample of the extract from Nineteen eighty four from George Orwell which was used in the reading comprehension. At the end, they offered us drinks (Malt Guinness) which is here really a treat as you can feed two persons for the price of one bottle (25p).
DA1: first quiz outside under the trees!

23rd November: be ready for the Grande Finale!!