Take the class

I had already observed a few History lessons and it was now time to observe English.  This was a different teacher and a grade lower then my ninth grade classes (most students in ninth grade are seventeen).  As I am having trouble posting pictures, I’ll try and describe the classrooms the best I can.  Imagine a long, two-toned, one story building, grey and green or grey and maroon.  Large yet prison like windows run along the sides of the building, with thick white bars protecting the dusty glass.  Inside, there is a smudged green chalkboard at the front, with tiny wooden student desks scattered around the room.  There are chairs for almost every student, but that doesn’t mean that the chair would have a back to it, sometimes it is just the flat wooden bottom with two metal bars racing up vertically to support a learners back.  Both the cement walls and floors are chipped and dented.  Nearly nothing hangs on the walls.  This is the basic classroom.  I don’t mean to make it sound so dismal, but truly, it is a cement room with an old board, desks, and chairs.  But at least there are these things. 

            I sat in the back of the class as the teacher began class. He announced that I would be taking over the class soon and that they should feel privileged to have me teach.  After that, he nodded his head to me and walked out.  So much for observing.  I gathered myself and trotted up the to front of the class.  I gave them a good morning and asked, “Do you know where I am from?”  I received blank stares, some nods, some shakes, some whispers.  “America.  Do you know where America is located?” Same response.  I drew a terrible world map and pointed out the various continents, countries, and where I lived. I then asked them if they knew of any famous people from America, musicians, actors, etc.  Some did and they quietly mentioned celebrities such as Tom Cruise, Jay-Z, Beyonce, 50 Cent, or Taylor Swift.  I located where each of them lived or came from.  The students seemed to like this, not because they said much, but because they couldn’t take their eyes away from the board or me.  I then went over where President Obama lives, the capitol, and such.  I had them pronounce Connecticut, which took a while, but we finally got there.  And then time was up.  My first lesson over and I felt good about it.

            Namibian students, at least rural ones, are extremely respectful.  It is a cultural thing to respect elders and I am very impressed at how devout the children are to this code.  If a person is younger than you, they will do anything you ask.  Learners here fetch water, help mark papers, or grab extra supplies. They stand up when a teacher is around and sit only when they are allowed to.  They never speak out or disrupt the class.  When called upon, they slowly, very slowly, stand up, think for another few seconds, and then whisper their answer.  Coming from loud and speedy America, this is a huge shock and adjustment for me.  Through the introduction lesson I explained that if they want to be the Learner of the Week (something I am doing to get the students motivated.  Every Friday I give the Learner of the Week a hand-made certificate, very nice of course, candy, pens/pencils, notebooks, etc.) they must participate, cooperate, and be respectful.  The participation factor is the most essential to me.  There is no way they will learn English if they are so reserved.  I told them that they must speak loud, LOUD! They laugh and then do respond, but this is very unusual to them.  Over and over I remind them to speak up, I have them repeat tough words of vocabulary.  They do enjoy it when the class yells in unison and I can tell that they are getting it and remembering. 

            After my first lesson they understood that the “I” in Connecticut has a soft “i” sound, not like an “ee” sound which most of them say.  I emphasized this by shrugging my shoulders and saying “eh”.  This animation and the volume have worked definitely worked, as they seem to remember what we went over in the past few days.  Hopefully they will continue to improve their English, something that is highly valued here in Namibia.  I taught them the word giggle today, they liked that.