US Teacher Finds Resilience Teaching English in Sderot Amid Post-Oct 7 Trauma
Translated & summarized from Maariv by baba
A teacher from New York, Lori Friedlander, is teaching English in Sderot as part of the Talma program, which brings international educators to Israeli peripheral communities. Friedlander noted her students are dealing with "loss and anxieties" since October 7th but she is committed to reaching them. The program currently involves 30 educators from 12 countries in eight Israeli locations, aiming to improve students' spoken English and future opportunities.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Lori Friedlander, a US teacher, is teaching English in Sderot, Israel.
- Her students are experiencing "loss and anxieties" following the October 7th attacks.
- Friedlander is part of the Talma program, which brings educators from 12 countries to Israel.
- The program aims to improve students' spoken English and future career prospects.
- 30 international educators are currently teaching in eight Israeli communities.
A teacher from New York, Lori Friedlander, who chose to teach English in the southern Israeli city of Sderot, has found that her students are grappling with "loss and anxieties" following the October 7th Hamas attacks. Despite the challenges, Friedlander expressed her determination to reach and support them. She is part of the "Talma" program, which brings educators from 12 countries to teach English in peripheral communities across Israel. This academic year, 30 educators are participating in the program, teaching in eight locations including Sderot, Kibbutz Kfar Aza, Eilat, Ashkelon, Nahariya, and Kiryat Ata. The program aims to strengthen students' confidence and proficiency in spoken English, viewing language acquisition as a tool for fostering excellence, bridging educational gaps, and opening future opportunities in higher education and employment, particularly in fields like high-tech, public diplomacy, and diplomacy. In the previous summer, the 12th cohort of the summer program saw 50 international teachers instruct approximately 1,500 students in four municipalities, working alongside Israeli teachers.