The ManicaPost
MR MTISI, what can I do to be an excellent English teacher? I have been teaching Grade 6 and 7 classes for 6 years. This year our school adopted a specialisation strategy. I was chosen to teach English only to four streams of Grade 6 and 7. Allow me to tell you that I find your columns inspiring and very useful. But how do we invite you to come to our school?
I have no doubt if and when you come to our school (name given), we will learn how to become veterans in the teaching of English Language. Please protect my name and identity. You know we are not allowed to talk to the media.
ANSWER
Not allowed to talk to the media? Really? I thought teachers were only prohibited to interrogate policy issues and to be information or news sources. Well, fine! I will find out from the PED if indeed teachers are not allowed to discuss their job and share wisdom on issues touching their lives and work. I promise I will seek clarification on this.
Back to your question. I’m not sure I can teach or train any teacher to become what you call “an excellent teacher” – especially where the teacher-education college failed. I am not an excellent teacher of English myself, sir. What I have is a lot of passion for teaching English and Literature – communication skills in general. I love what I do and am genuinely disturbed when teachers knowingly or unknowingly let English Language affect the process of learning. How can those of us who have the passion and claim to be gurus in this area allow our children to have English be an impregnable barrier between success and failure in their lives?
Listen! To grow into what you call an excellent English Language teacher, you cannot master one or two skills and be the classroom practitioner you aspire to be.
Generally, let’s begin here, excellent teachers are continuous learners. Seek more knowledge and ideas through research, ASK, ASK and ASK. I know-it-alls imprison themselves in a cocoon of pride and prejudice. Snobs have very little to learn.
Like in any other subject, excellent classroom practice begins with a love affair with the subject.
But let me drive towards the more technical aspects of a truly educative process. The teaching of English Language is complex — very complex, unless you do not understand the concept of explicit attention. English Language is too complex to be assimilated in toto.
The strategy of a knowledgeable teacher is to break up the process of teaching it into portions assimilated piecemeal, that is to say in a gradual and graded way. The skills are too numerous and intertwined to be communicated ordinarily. A good English Language teacher will select aspects, features of the language which are fundamental and capable of being learnt . . . responded to. Then smartly and purposefully designing a progressive order, using the knowledge and skills first acquired as a means of gaining insight into more complex skills! I will suggest the selectable aspects for you next week. WATCH THIS SPACE!
A teacher from a Primary School in rural Watsomba in Mutasa District, also writing on condition of anonymity, asked: “In your good opinion, what do you think is the most important skill to teach Primary School pupils in order to develop what you often refer to as, ‘a high command of English Language’ in your columns? I am a long-time serious reader of your columns and I don’t miss The Manica Post every week to gain your expertise and technical advice. Keep up the good work of educating the nation. We want you here to help us. How do we do it? Do you charge any fees for your workshops?
ANSWER
In my opinion, what do I think is the most important skill to teach . . . ? I hope you have already read my response to the first writer. It aptly answers the most part of your question. Do not miss next week’s instalment.
In it I will labour to elaborate my perception of appropriating the purpose which actuates learning and establishes a purified medium of teaching.
For now it is important for me to genuinely acknowledge my appreciation of your remarks. Like every normal human being, I feel flattered to hear teachers say something glowing about my contributions towards their own work.
I am a teacher like all of you, but to be told that I make a worthwhile point in their work; that my experience and ideas make them better teachers is a special thing.
How do you get me get to your school? Easy! I do not impose myself on schools or walk into them of my own volition. Get this straight! I engage teachers and/or students at the invitation of the school head, invited or hired as a consultant or what many call a resource person. I do not prospect schools; schools prospect my services.
Many teachers qualified or still in teacher training, consult me on a personal level during holidays and weekends. They foot their own bills. No protocols observed!
I am an independent consultant in the teaching and learning of English Language. Understand that? As such, students and teachers (schools) seek consultancy from me.
Simply convince your school head or head of department that you can benefit from my guidance and tips.
Make a date with me. I will be there when you want me. Unless your appointment clashes with another! Remember there are reforms that restrict “outsiders” to visit schools for whatever cause. Please note: Observe all protocols (not potholes) before I come to your school. That is extremely important.
Do I charge fees? Kkkkkkkk seka zvako mwana wa Shirimanhenga! Interesting question! I am a teacher like you – rabbi azere, though no more in mainstream classroom practice. As such it is not only you who have an appetite for incentives. Consultancy is now one of my jobs.
Like other consultants in other fields like modern medicine, psychiatry, law, traditional healing or herbal science, business, etc, I charge a small fee . . . so that I put a little food on my table, buy shoes to walk to your school . . . so that I pay myself a little . . . so that I am motivated to love my work more and perform better.
I have no donor who is funding my consultancy programmes or services. What you can rest assured that you can get free from me are my ideas and thoughts through The Manica Post.
I’m thankful, you, too, must be, that it gives me a small token allowance for running this “school” in their paper.
