Cours d’Anglais (English Course)

le 27 octobre   The Rwandan school system is set up in trimesters in a school year that runs from January through to the end of October. That being said, the school year was just winding down when I got here and was followed by two weeks of exams. In the first week of January, the next scholar year will begin. So what kinds of fun things do the students get to do during their “vacances?” Come to the school weekdays from 8-12 for six weeks and have to sit in a classroom with me. : )

In 2007, Rwanda joined into the Eastern African Countries group, which required the educational system to be changed from Francophone (as a former Belgian colony) to Anglophone. As the change was made very quickly, there was no transitional period which would have allowed for both students and teachers to prepare themselves. Instead, teachers were thrown into a classroom setting and required to teach a subject matter that they themselves were not well versed in. One of the teachers at the school here in Gisenyi says that because the change was made in the middle of his university studies, he had to take some time off in order to ameliorate his English and then return to university. He had been studying in French up until that point and overnight was required to begin the same level of work in English.

English is therefore critical if one wants to go on to receive a university education or to get a good job. Great strides have been made by both the educators and students, however the teachers are still only students themselves – even the best are not mother-tongue nor are they fully fluent. One major obstacle is the pronunciation, which I’ve been learning is quite difficult for most people with Kinyarwanda or Swahili as a first language. “R’s” and “L’s” are very often mixed up – the first day at school I was perplexed as to why a secondary school child would ask me to “pray” with him at Recreation.

Luckily for me, any help I can give these 30 or so students from 4th Form Hotellerie will benefit them greatly. Being forced to use the language and to have someone who is mother-tongue to correct their grave and minor errors will aid in their learning. [Besides, I’ve had plenty of practice – thanks Grammar Police.] I’ve been going through all resources available in the last week or two, between what is in the school library, the house library, and what I’ve brought. I’m hoping to keep things lively for these poor students who are stuck with me for almost the entirety of their vacation period.

I’m looking forward to starting class on Monday, though I dare say I’m a bit anxious! The students are all wonderful and I know that everything will run smoothly and effectively, however as this is my first time preparing for and teaching a class, I have some butterflies! Besides, four hours is a long time. Thankfully, these aren’t children but are 18-19 and as I already know the group I’m hoping they will be more eager to participate. So please be praying for me on Monday for my first day of class! (It might be wise to start on Sunday evening, as I’m 6 hours ahead of EST.)