About teaching
Useful advice from previous volunteers.
The key thing to know is that public schools in Tanzania are never as well organised as you are used to. Therefore, this won't be a perfect guide, nor a definite timeline for your months at Mlimani. But it will give you a better understanding of what you can expect. For general info about the school, read on here.
The first day
The start of term at Mlimani is often chaotic. The first day of lessons might be at a different date than scheduled/communicated, and it will take some days for a normal routine to establish. So don't worry if you feel a bit lost at first, just keep asking the teachers for help!
Things to expect on your first day:
Introduction to the key people at Kifaru Coffee Estate.
Walk to Mlimani. Someone will take you there.
Academic Head shows you around the school.
Headmaster announces you to the students.
Teachers will greet and welcome you.
Subjects and timetables are set up with you.
The subjects
A typical week
This is how past volunteers planned their week. Ask if you can teach alongside Mlimani teachers (they often say no, due to a lack of teachers, or because they aren't comfortable with it). If they say it isn't possible, decide amongst your volunteer group whether you want to teach in pairs or solo.
General advice is to aim for 2-4 lessons per day (1-2 subjects). Less than that can get boring, and more might overwhelm you (don't underestimate prep-time or correcting tests etc.). You will find enough things to do between and after lessons.
What lessons are like
The learning material and the curriculum itself won't be as up-to-date and readily available as it may have been at your own school. Usually, only some of the students in a class have textbooks, and the common method of teaching is the old-fashioned chalk and talk lesson, where students copy from the blackboard. The science buildings and a barely used computer room are the only areas with electricity, and Mlimani now has a printer. This can be very useful to create short tests etc.
The Mlimani teachers will introduce you to the syllabus of your chosen subjects, give you a textbook and instruct which chapters to teach.
From there, you are usually very free to plan lessons however you see fit. It will take a while to get a feel for what works and what doesn't. Most students tend to be shy, making very active lessons difficult. But be creative, and push the boundaries, because that is what you're there for!
More hands-on advice
The beginning at Mlimani often feels like jumping in at the deep end. There is no easy way to hit the ground running, but take these pointers from past volunteers as advice:
Communicate with the teachers!
It can be difficult and awkward to ask them questions, as some are not too comfortable in English. But just be friendly, active and open, and you will be able to work together. Also, learn their names quickly!
Focus on 1-2 subjects
Normally English, maths or sciences, as this is where they are often lacking teachers.
Take self action
There are only around 13 teachers at Mlimani, and they won't always tell you what to do.
Engage the class through the more active students
It's sometimes good to engage a lot with the talkative and clever students, in a way that encourages the others. Maybe let them present a topic in front of class. But don't neglect the quiet ones in this way!
Stay in school for lunch
It's a good time to engage more with the teachers and students, and shows that you care. If you seem passive, the teachers may think you don't like being there, and might distance themselves from you too.
Be confident but friendly in front of students
Many of them are shy, yet they can also sometimes lose respect if you aren't firm enough. It's probably a lot like you and your classmates were, so find the right balance.
But still keep working with the teachers
Even if a teacher seems passiv, and doesn't join your lessons, do your best to work with them. Keep them updated and engage them in your plans.
Try teaching-methods you know from school
These may be new to Mlimani students, and could fail, but it's worth a try. Volunteers have had success with things like vocabulary quizzes, students reading in front of class or short math tests to summarise a topic.
