Becoming a (French-speaking?) teacher

My new Cameroonian dress (or skirt+t-shirt)

Now it's two weeks since I started working, and I want to tell you about one of my working places and my experiences there (I know the pictures don't match the text, but I haven't taken any pictures at work yet. Therefore I just added some pictures); Today was my third time being a teacher at Centre Socio Ménanger, which is a "housewife school" (husmorskole). It's run by the church EELC (Eglise Evangelique Luthérienne au Cameroun), but most of the students are Muslims. There are 50 girls/women between 13-21 years old, attending the school. Even though they are so young, attending this school, is for many of them, their possibility not to have to go into an arranged marriage. In the school they learn how to sew and cook, they have sport and Bible classes and learn English and computer skills, in addition to other subjects. This is so that they get some education, that hopefully also will make them able to earn money by themselves when they have finished school. For example they can earn money by sewing.

At this school Johanne and me are responsible for the English and informatics/computer teaching. But since our students don't know any English, we have to speak in French...And for me, struggling with French, I can assure it is quite a challenge! In the first lesson I had I managed to mix the words to forget (oublier) and to remember (se rappeler) in French, so I ended up emphasizing that the students shoud try to forget what they had learnt to the next lesson, and then that I would check that they had forgotten it ;) Hehe... Fun to think of! 

"Makkala", which we ate yesterday. You can guess why there are so few left in the photo... ;-)

The two first times there Johanne and me have had the classes together. But now we have divided the classes between us, and I'm going to have the first year students. They are 20 girls between 13-18 years old, most of them are 15-16 years old. I'm going to work at Centre Socio Ménanger on Wednesdays and Fridays, teaching the first year students both English and computer skills. On beforehand, I have to admit, I was a little nervous because I'm not that good at speaking English, and I haven't got any experience in being a teacher. Therefore the first lessons, where I got to know the level of the students, were a relief to me. Then I figured that my students don't even know how to say: "My name is...", and they have never written on a computer before, so that's were I start. I hope I will manage to learn them some more during this year.

However, I was a little bit unsure about that, after having a lesson with the second and third year students. They have had English for at least one year. Despite of that it was really difficult for them to present themselves in English. That was even after I had written; "My name is....", "I am...years old", "I have...sisters and...brothers" and "I like to ...(sew)" on the blackboard, repeated it a lot of times and got them to repeat it after me...

Consert with the choir "Gospel Singers" last Saturday. Fun to watch them sing and dance!

Anyway, I'm really looking forward to continue with the teaching there! I'm actually glad they didn't know much English, because then I think I'm capable of teaching them, and I can start with the basics. I learnt the students the song "Head and shoulders", and I think it was very fun, because they really enjoy singing!


But the first lessons I had were very exhausting. The reason is that the students were not that quiet all the time. (And I don't like to be strict. But I have found out that I really have to train myself in that this year, as the students are used to the strict teaching style.)  That I had to think about all the French words and grammar I know, before making a sentence, also made it hard... In spite of the difficulties, being a teacher is much more fun that what I had expected! I love it! And I think I will learn a lot of French this way, as I have to prepare what to say before each lesson. I have to figure out how to teach them English and computer skills in French...

I also think it's so nice and fun that all the people here manage to say and remember my whole name. That's because Sara-Jeanette is a French name. In addition, they even pronounce it the same way as me, with the beautiful "skarre-r"! I think it's so lovely! And it's also quite fun when some of my students call me "Madame Sara-Jeanette"!

Visit from some friends in their school uniforms (they came to visit on their way home from school) :)

Today I had my first lesson alone with the first year students. After this lesson, I'm more optimistic about teaching. In the end of the lesson, the students actually managed to present themselves in English and count to 20! And the students were more quiet when they should be quiet, and active when they should be active. So I was very satisfied :) I think I got more respect from them this time, and I think I will adjust more and more into the role as a teacher after some time. 

Je me réjois à continuer être un professeur! Bonne soirée à tous!

In this time grasshoppers are everywhere, even on the tables in the finest restaurants...