Georgia | English Language through Civic Education | 14 Dec 2012

On December 14, 2012 ELCE alumnae from Kutaisi Public School #17 organized a “Best Linguist” debate on the topic of Immigration. Twenty-five 9thgrade students all from present or former ELCE participant schools (Kutaisi Public Schools #17, #3, #37 and Zugdidi Public School #3) discussed, in English, whether or not immigration out of Georgia hurts or helps cultural preservation.

The students presented great arguments and posed thoughtful questions to the opposing side. In the end, however, Dea Chumburidze from School #3 in Kutaisi was the best debater and was chosen the overall winner by the panel of judges. The distinguished panel of judges included three Kutaisi-area Peace Corps Volunteers, a TLG Volunteer from Kutaisi Public School #17, ELCE Program ELTT Kirsten Mashinter, and Head of the National Curriculum and General Education Development Department with the Georgian Ministry of Education and Science,Natia Jokhadze.

“The ELCE Program has created a great network of teachers, which keeps them connected even after they graduate from the project.”, said Irina Jgerenaia, Principal of School #17 in Kutaisi. “It would be impossible to organize this event without the expertise that the ELCE program has given to our teachers and without the strong professional links it has helped to establish between them. The “Best Linguist” debate was truly a joint effort!”, she exclaimed.