This week, we had the opportunity to observe some classroom
teaching. I observed a P5 (primary level 5) English class taught by a current
Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV), and I have some observations on the observation.
First of all, both the PCV teacher and her Rwandan co-teacher were very
engaging and most, if not all, of the students were invested in the lesson.
Second of all, the students were prepared and ready to learn. Though they don’t
have much in the way of resources and school supplies, every student had
something to write with and something to write on, which is more than I say of
some students I have taught previously in the states (though I know they have
pencils and paper at home). And third of all, it was a content based lesson,
which speaks to what I learned in my graduate ESL classes. It wasn’t just
grammar drills or defining vocab, but a social studies lesson wrapped in an
English lesson. The students were learning about their different rights (i.e.
right to health, right to education, etc.) and the lesson crossed subject lines
so student could be engaged on multiple levels.
I still have many questions though. Primary students go to
school in shifts (some in the morning, some in the afternoon) because of overcrowding.
Is there enough instruction time? And at only 40 minutes per class period, how
do teachers usually structure lessons? How is intervention done? What is the
policy for special education students? The students could say the words, but did they understand the meaning? I still have many things to learn and discover.
Anyway, pictures! Warning: more feet.
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| Chaco tan coming in strong. Pedicure game still on point. |
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| Post observation |
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| Living Room 1 |
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| Living Room 2 |
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| The intruder on the children's choir at church. |
