Lack of Constructive Thinking

There is a huge manqué de penser avec raison.  From the time they enter into school, these kids are drilled to memorize; to act as a robot in replying.  When I ask, “What is your name?” “My name’s so-and-so.” Never, “It’s… I’m called…” or just the plain name.  Also, “How are you?” “I’m fine, thank you.”  Is the response.  These questions are like triggers, for example when you type and spell-check recognizes an error it automatically corrects the misspelling to the right way.  Automatic, programmed. 

            Even when I ask questions in class, they can’t give a reason, why? They just jot down what they previously heard.  They really can’t think for themselves.  (I’m zooming in the humdrums of the Lycee de Belel).  For example, who is your idol, I write on the board.  I give examples; my idol is Barrack Obama because he’s the first African-American president.  They repeat exactly what I wrote on the board… or Nelson Mandela… because… then respond en français. They need some notes to help them.  (That goes into another story).

            The other sad thing, I’m teaching two foreign languages.  I feel so bad, I have to speak in FRENCH almost the majority of the time so that the students are able to understand the theory behind why a certain grammar point is the way it is… another example of backwards society en brousse.

            There is virtually no imagination, no creativity among my students.  There are the selective few.  However, imagination ceases to exist here.  All they know is eat, sleep, shit, the ways to be self-sufficient.  Most families have farms. 

The running concept here is that the teacher is always right.  The Cameroon teachers dictate with really no explanation; there is no challenge from students as to why or why not?  (This is from my own experience in Belel.  It could be similar or different with other TEFL volunteers). 

Then those little brats make fun of señora/madame because I can’t pronounce something right in French/ write incorrectly on the board.  I’m not perfect.  I throw it right back in their faces, if you’re so smart tell me, explain this grammar point.  Teaching teenagers has hardened me.  It’s a double-edged sword- you have to be tough and a bitch for them to eventually respect you… or they’ll walk all over you if you laugh with them.  I learned the hard way.

The best way to get at a student is humiliation.  I make them stand up and pronounce an English or Spanish word and sound it out.  The others snicker; until I point out another kid and then he eventually shuts up because he can’t pronounce the word either.  Ha.  I don’t mean to sound sour, it can be amusingly sadistic…

Hasta luego todos! :0)