EDUCATION
GEORGIA TODAY FEBRUARY 2019
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Everything You Need to Know about the GZAAT Saturday & Summer School Programs Info Box
BY KETEVAN KVARATSKHELIYA
T
he Guivy Zaldastanisvhili American Academy in Tbilisi (GZAAT) is one of most outstanding schools in Georgia, aiming to give a chance for its pupils to live a ‘full life’, and challenging each of them to reach his or her full intellectual, creative and physical potential. To help fulfill that mission, GZAAT has launched two new projects. GEORGIA TODAY
went to meet the GZAAT teachers of Georgian and English, Ketevan Topadze and Gvantsa Zhuruli, to find out more. The first project, running for a year already, is called ‘Saturday Academy on Lisi’. Students from all over the country, and even people visiting Georgia, get to spend four Saturdays at GZAAT, but not in the traditional academic way. With the belief that working and having fun are not mutually exclusive, on Saturdays from 10 AM to 4PM, through a variety of academic, cultural and sports activities, and in the safe and com-
What’s That? Outstanding – incredible, special Potential – what you can do Fulfill – complete, do Launched – started Mutually exclusive – separate, individual Advance – improve, make better Spheres – topics, fields, areas of study/interest Self-confident – happy with who they are Volunteering – working/helping without pay Diversity – many different options, variety Unforgettable – you can’t forget it, you will always remember it
THE GZAAT PHILOSOPHY • We believe in the fundamental importance of student centered, interactive learning that stresses critical thinking, problem solving and effective communication skills. • We believe in the need to develop well-rounded individuals with sound values and sound minds who see education as a way to know themselves, to know their world, and to change it for the better. • We believe that knowledge of and appreciation for Georgian culture must be a fundamental element of our program and the ethos of the school. • We believe in the central importance of the classroom teacher and the school community as a participatory, learning environment. • We believe in utilizing the best resources to realize our mission, be they teacher facilities, technology, or educational research. fortable modern facilities of GZAAT, children are given the chance to learn and have fun. The aim is to help them to advance their knowledge in different spheres, improve a number of skills and become more self-confident. By accepting students from different Georgian schools, the Saturday Academy allows students to meet people from different backgrounds and to make new friends. The program is for children of grades 5 to 8 and costs 95 GEL per session. The Saturday Academy also has a course for adults who want to advance their level of English, called ‘Practical English for Adults’. Those who know intermediate-level English but want to improve their speaking skills can take a 1.5-hour class with professional and native speaker teachers. A third program for grades 3-4 is being launched in March which will use innovative approaches including mental arithmetic. The Saturday Academy is not only focused on students. It represents
one of the best possibilities for the teacher to earn some more money and gives the regular GZAAT pupils a chance to ‘give back’ by volunteering as teachers or assistants. Yet another GZAAT program is the three-week Summer School. You can choose from a diversity of very interesting subjects that you won’t see in other Georgian schools. All the subjects are taught in English. They don’t actually teach English as a subject, but by choosing a subject you like which is taught in English, your level should naturally improve. The GZAAT Summer School also offers a lot of sports, including swimming and horse-riding, great for your physical and mental health. And the best part – there are no exams when you finish the above courses! It’s all about fun and learning through your own motivation to succeed. Why not try a GZAAT Saturday Academy course or the GZAAT Summer School for unforgettable memories and the first steps on an amazing life journey.