Pen Pals Project

Having friends is so much fun. To have new friends from another country like America is really special.
Pen Pal Project Madania School-PM Akin Elementary, Texas USA
(the photo showing the students of Madania with their pen pals letters on display in background)

My students of grade 3 Madania Elementary School showed their excitement when I announced that I just got an email about an invitation from an Elementary school in Texas, USA to write letters to make friendship and get to know each other through a project “Penpals.” They were so enthusiastic to hear it that they wanted to begin writing immediately.
I continued communicating with Mrs. McMillen the teacher of grade 3 of PM Elementary about what and how to begin the correspondence between my students and hers. We agreed to match our students so that everyone would have a friend to share stories with. We sent short writing of students’ introduction through email each other several times but then developed it through something more interesting: mail students handwritten letters! It took quite a time to get settled with students’ letters. They would tell and describe about themselves: likes, favorites, hobbies, and families. Janet and I did a process of writing of what our student wanted to write. We taught them to plan their letter writing and asked them to make a draft. Then they began writing as they planned in their drafts with developing ideas of their own. I had my self help them with their English in editing process: the vocabulary, the spelling, and the English structure. After that, I asked to share what they had made with other students in a conference to require a few ideas and suggestions or comments. To finalize their writing, I had them publish their letters through a class presentation to hear their friends’ comments. At this stage, we got surprised that Mrs. McMillen students’ letters arrived in our class (mid Dec 2005). Very fast! My students could not wait anymore and asked me to distribute each letter to everyone’s pen pal. Everyone enjoyed reading their pen pal’s letter. They read not just once. Because they had to answer questions from their American friends, they had to modify their letters with answers for their friends. Not enough, I encouraged them to prepare presents for their friends as something to have and remember about this correspondence. They made pins, masks, bookmarks, decorated writing notes, and decorated hello cards. At last, all the letters were mailed!
I found enjoyment in class, especially in the process of learning the English language. Through this project, my students have developed their reading and writing skills. They have also learned to know a little culture of America during our talks and discussions about the country. They have been very curious about America and hoped someday they can fly there. I am proud, and proud of my students for their eagerness and achievement of completing the project.

Special thanks to:
« Jakarta US embassy
« IEARN
« P.M. Akin Elementary School (Mrs. Janet McMillen)
http://www.wylieisd.net/campus/akin/default.wspx

Here are comments from my students:
Before I had pen pal from Texas, I feel I want to have a friend from other country. When I had a pen pal named Libby, I was so happy because I had a friend from another country. I started to send letters for Libby. When I have another friend, from another country, I will ask then how is the place there? Or some other questions that I will ask. In the future I want to have more friends from another country.
Nadine

I start to learn pen pals when I am in grade 3, and we just do it. We have pen pals in Texas. I like to have many friends from the other county that I don’t know, like Texas. That is one country that I don’t know much, so I can contact my pen pals there and ask how is Texas. For the future I want to have more pen pals for my life, because maybe someday if I already grown up maybe I can see my pen pals. I like to have many friends from the other country. I just like something new about other country.
Chacha

I feel so happy to have a pen pal like Hansel. I learnd about his culture and personality, like hobby, favorite things and other things. And I also can get a new friend. In the future I wish I can meet or be pen pal with him again.
Damar

We are very interested in getting contact with any school globally for particular communication, sharing, or collaborative projects. Please feel free to contact me.