Photo By Maj. Michael Wallace | Capt. Allen Jones (front row, second from the right), the legal assistant and claims...... read more read more
CAMP BONDSTEEL, Kosovo - Being involved with youth and mentoring them comes as a second nature to Kansas National Guard Soldier, Capt. Allen Jones, a judge advocate officer with the 35th Infantry Division, now serving as a legal assistant and claims attorney for the Multinational Battle Group-East at Camp Bondsteel with the 504th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade in Kosovo. He is part of the KFOR-18 contingent.
Assisting other instructors in teaching 25 students English as a second language, Jones has taken it upon himself to help the students from the municipality of Ferizaj/Urosevac, Kosovo, in preparing them to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language exam later this year.
The exam is a timed test that comprises reading, listening, speaking and writing sections where the student must demonstrate a high level of understanding the English language.
The test must be passed to be able to study in the United States.
Jones says he enjoys giving opportunities for others so they can contribute and make their lives meaningful, especially when it deals with the youth of Kosovo.
“Helping the youth of Kosovo in their educational activities helps everyone in Kosovo,” said Jones. “This gives them the opportunity to be accepted in higher learning (colleges), which gives them a chance at better jobs, better income, and being a powerful instrument in improving the economy and lifestyles in Kosovo.”
The high school students enjoy Jones as an instructor. Diellza, 17, and Dyresa, 15, Mani are sisters in the same high school junior class who both want to be medical doctors. Both say Jones’ enthusiastic way of teaching make them want to learn more, not just about English, but also about the United States.
“The United States sounds like a wonderful place where there are so many opportunities,” said Diellza. “I would like to study in America and meet all the interesting people.”
“We’ve learned so much from Capt. Jones, “said Dyresa. “The country is so fascinating, because there are so many ways to say the same thing, with so many words that sound the same, but have different meanings—and because the country is so large, there are so many dialects to hear and experience. I want to experience America, too.”
Jones understands the challenges with the English language and he sets up exercises for the students throughout the classes. One day, the students will be challenged to give a presentation about certain words which may sound the same but have different meanings, or phrases in the American vernacular that make no sense translated to Albanian. On another day, Jones may give an exercise where he randomly passes out statements such as, “Elton John is the best singer ever” and have the students team up and give speeches to support the claim or argue against it.
Students have to write essays, give speeches, interpret what they heard someone say and many other demonstrations on how well they understand English.
The class must speak English the whole time and the students constantly use dictionaries, thesauruses and other reference material to insure they use the proper words.
“These students have a strong drive in their education,” said Jones. “They understand that the future of Kosovo rests upon them and they want to contribute to a better Kosovo and a better world. Through their education, they can contribute greatly to a better way of life for them, their families and the people of Kosovo.”
But just as the students are learning in the classroom, Jones and the other instructors are learning as well. Jones said that he learns a lot about daily life and the people’s viewpoints of the world as he interrelates with his students.
“I’ve learned that the youth here have dreams and goals like much of the youth worldwide, but it is much more difficult to attain these just because these kids are in Kosovo,” said Jones.
“Their drive to learn drives me to teach,” Jones said. “It is a distinct pleasure and privilege assisting these young scholars as they improve themselves, and as they improve, so do I. I am a better person because I’ve met these students, and the world will be a better place because of them.”
Jones and his wife, Kristine, live in Liberty, Mo., with their six children, Allen 12; Abby, 10; Caleb 8; Eliza 6; Joshua, 4 and Sierra, 1. He is a graduate of Ricks College, Rexburg, Idaho; Brigham Young University, Salt Lake City; and received his juris doctorate degree at the University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kan.
| Date Taken: | 04.10.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 04.17.2014 13:40 |
| Story ID: | 126454 |
| Location: | CAMP BONDSTEEL, ZZ |
| Hometown: | LIBERTY, MO, US |
| Web Views: | 162 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, A mentor for youth at home and in Kosovo, by MAJ Michael Wallace, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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