A while ago people asked me coping with the language difference, and I'm finally getting around to addressing it. I tried to convince myself it wasn't so bad and I'd learn, but a month in I haven't become fluent (or anywhere close), so it's time to be honest about it. Language has definitely been a challenge, but has seemed to play more into trouble with classroom management than actually getting my information across.
In the area of Malawi that I am in, they people speak the official language Chichewa. There are other native languages around, but the chances of me realizing a language isn't Chichewa is slim to none. Last week when I went to the market someone greeted me, and I knew he didn't stick to the script (AKA I know a general greeting, a greeting for the morning, and a greeting for the afternoon and he didn't use any of those). I assumed he was asking me something else. Turns out he was using a local language. After laughing at me for a while he switched to English, explained to me what he was saying, and told me there'd be a test next time he saw me. I need to get groceries in the next few days so fingers crossed I magically remember what to say because I really can't afford avoiding my apple salesman.
I want to be clear--hearing English is not out of the norm. The village administrator and teachers I work for/with all speak very good English. Occasionally there are little misunderstandings, but most have been more from differences in culture than language. The house mothers also really bless me by speaking to me in English (after giggling at having me greet them in Chichewa first).
As far as the kids, even the nursery students have English classes.
The nursery kids are around me the most each day and have learned what I mean me I ask them to touch and count, trace, and a few other question words they didn't necessarily understand when I first showed up.
I haven't been around the standard 1-4 students much, but this week we're trying something new so I can give them instruction too. That age group is the group that has the least firm English. The kids try to talk to me a lot and some still don't realize I have no idea what they are saying. There are a few young ones who have caught on, point to something, say, "Chichewa: _______, English?" and wait for me to tell them the English translation.
As for the standard 5-8 kids, they know more English because the majority of classes at school are conducted in English, but that doesn't mean they are comfortable using it. Or really understand what they are reading/hearing/repeating. Or that I understand what they are trying to tell me/ask me because of different sentence construction. Add the fact that it's a crowd favorite to speak at me in Chichewa because they know I have no idea what they are saying, and we're in for a treat.
Because we do a lot of work in small groups the kids help one another out if someone doesn't understand what I'm asking him to do and are quick to help me if I don't understand one of them. I even have a miniature teacher in preschool who translates for his classmates. Like I said, the toughest time I have is with classroom management because when saying sit or no doesn't work, I've got nothing else. Teacher eyes that paralyzed kids last semester have no effect here. I'll keep working on it. Until then, here's to praising appropriate behavior and hoping others catch on.
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