Today I taught my first class of Tanzanian students. Which coincidentally was also the first class I've ever taught. It was a double period (80 minutes) and I was told the class would just be starting the Statistics section of the syllabus. Not knowing what to expect, I prepared a lesson to cover pictograms, bar graphs and pie charts. I only got through pictograms. And I'm pretty convinced that at least 70% of the class had no idea what I was saying for the whole period. It could have gone better, but honestly, I'm glad nothing disastrous happened.
I think the most difficult aspect of the class is the language barrier. The students are going to be tested in English, and all higher education is taught in English, so it is important for me to teach in English. But most of these Form 2 students know very little English. Not that my Swahili is good enough to teach in their first language.
But there are a lot of really encouraging things about this first experience. The students were very attentive. Many of them were actively participating and answering questions. AND I was able to get some of the quicker students to help the slower (or language lacking) students to complete the class work.
They tell us to celebrate the small victories, so I'm going to smile about this for a little longer, however insignificant the lesson may actually have been..
Also, I gave a list of ingredients to my host father ("Baba") and I was told I will be cooking spaghetti for my host family on Sunday!! They have no idea what they are in for.
Sounds like you had an amazing first lesson Joel! There never seems to ever be enough time in any class period to get through all of your lesson plan so celebrate getting through pictograms :) Congrats!!!
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