EFL GAVE HOPE TO HOSTAGES
A Colombian former state governor, Alan Jara, kidnapped by Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrillas, "eased the plight" of his fellow captives in the jungle by teaching them English during seven years in captivity, reports Tony Goncalves.
Jara, now 51, was taken prisoner in 2001 on the ElDorado-Lejanias motorway in his native Meta state while working as a consultant for the United Nations Development Programme. He was released to Red Cross officials in February.
Jara taught himself English in the jungle with a dictionary and decided to teach the language to his fellow captives -soldiers and policemen- to help pass the time. Former hostages of FARC quoted in El Mundo newspaper told how Jara's lessons took place over a six-year period around an improvised table, in primitive jungle conditions and under the constant watch of captors.
The first topic of Jara's lessons would usually be the daily news heard on the radio, especially any news on the humanitarian agreement on prisoner exchanges between FARC and the Colombian government.
Jara's group was a mixe-ability class, and Jara assessed them periodically. Assessment methods included students sending messages to their loved ones in English.
Taken from ELGazette Digital April Edition
http://mag.digitalpc.co.uk/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=ELGAZETTE&BaseHref=ELGAPD/2009/04/01&PageLabel=1&EntityId=Ar00100&ViewMode=GIF
