Wednesday, June 27, 2007

I'm a teacher!

I am a mwalimu (teacher in Swahili). This work I am working with the senior 1-senior 3 (oor freshman, sophomore, and juniors in American high schools). I am teaching remedial english and I love it. I get to assign homework, grade for a few hours every day and plan my lessons before class. My students are already getting more comfortable with me. I was able to get a student, who another English teacher has never heard speak in English, to talk in class and now he is teaching me Swahili while I help him improve his English.

I have been spending a lot of time with the kids while they cook. When I am around they try to speak English and there are always at least 10 students around the cooking pot when I am there. I am also picking up a little cooking this way. Fadhil is teaching me how to cook for the students. He is a wonderful boy who came from a farming town very far away. His mother sold her land to pay for him to take the bus to school. He lives on campus, like me.

I am having the students write lots of essays. Although I think I am being mean that other teachers tell me that the kids really like me and they like the way that I teach. Teacher Hassan keeps telling me that I should change my major and be a teacher because I am a natural. Today, while I was helping cook, Hassan asked the students if they loved teacher Ema and they all yelled yes! It was a really great feeling. Being here is amazing and the kids I get to spend time with are some of the most amazing, hard working, loving kids I have ever met.

2 comments:

Andy Clark said...

I think that is great that you have gotten to know the kids and that they like you so much i think that is o great I think that is great work you are doing down their

giulia gabbard said...

hi ema
its awsome your a mwalimu!
we miss you bunches.
=)giulia