This past weekend the teachers who coordinate the Maghama English Club invited me to visit their school for their first annual English Camp. I was delighted to be able to travel there and participate in the event.
One of the things I like the best about my work in Mauritania is to be able to work with inspired and motivated teachers throughout the country. Together, we have organized many workshops and built a strong network of educators for the Mauritania Teachers Association. I am always looking for ideas and opportunities to increase collaboration among teachers.
English Clubs seem like a perfect venue to increase student engagement, while simultaneously providing a nation-wide activity for teachers to create in their communities. Yet there isn't currently a network of English Clubs, and there seems to be little collaboration among teachers coordinating clubs in different cities. I decided that helping teachers to create a network of clubs that already exist would be a great project. This is one of the many reasons I was enthusiastic to travel to Maghama and see an English Club in action!
I left my house in Nouakchott at 6:30 am and arrived in Maghama at 11:00 pm. Maghama is only about 600 km away, but the roads and traveling conditions are really difficult. Immediately when I arrived we had a planning meeting for the following two days of the camp. I offered to give the club some money to buy drinks, etc. but the teachers informed me that the Club members had already raised funds to buy the ingredients to make donuts and bissap for the weekend refreshments. At that moment, I knew that this was no ordinary group of students. And definitely, no ordinary group of teachers!
The Camp consisted of two days of activities from morning until the evening. A group of teachers (from all disciplines) divided the 50 students into five groups and each led a set of hour-long activities. The afternoon sessions were student-led, and included an interactive game of "Genius in the Grass" as well as a football match. The students demonstrated ownership in all of the Camp' activities and took an active leadership role.
The English Club at Maghama High School is a brilliant example of how effective students and teachers can be when they work together to make learning fun. The students' strong English skills are a testament to the excellent work of their teachers. The teachers' willingness to invest so much time into extracurricular school activities is a testament to their commitment. Their self-reliance and dedication make them a perfect example for others to follow. I only wish that every school in the country had a group of teachers and students as motivated as the team at Maghama High School!
The English Club at Maghama High School is a brilliant example of how effective students and teachers can be when they work together to make learning fun. The students' strong English skills are a testament to the excellent work of their teachers. The teachers' willingness to invest so much time into extracurricular school activities is a testament to their commitment. Their self-reliance and dedication make them a perfect example for others to follow. I only wish that every school in the country had a group of teachers and students as motivated as the team at Maghama High School!
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