Back to School

I can officially say that I have survived my first ever week of teaching, and prior to that my first ever training as a new teacher! I am now the Biology teacher of the Form 1 (9th grade) students at St. Andrews Mission Secondary School (SAMSS) in Mulanje, Malawi! Throughout the year I am sure I will have more stories than I could ever write about, but here is an introduction to what my new school and life as a teacher is like.

St. Andrews Mission Secondary School has just begun its sixth school year. When the school was first built it was only the classrooms and the teachers’ prep rooms. Since that time it has expanded into what it is today: a block of classrooms, a building that houses the science and computer labs, the teachers’ prep block, two hostels (dormitories) that house 60 people each (one for boys and one for girls), bathrooms, showers and wash rooms that support the school and the hostels, and a large gathering hall (Southminster Hall) where students can eat and where meetings can be held. The school is beautiful and very well maintained.

Days start early here in Malawi; we gather as a school at 6:45 a.m. in the Church’s sanctuary for chapel. The students file in wearing their school uniforms (blue pants and a white or blue button up shirt for boys, and a blue skirt and a white or blue button up shirt for girls). Our Chaplain shares a short sermon; this week he talked about how we have to work hard in order to succeed and encouraged both students and staff to put in the work they need to in order to make this year successful. After the sermon school announcements are made and Chapel ends with everyone singing the Malawian National Anthem followed with a benediction, and then it’s time for everyone to head to class!

Each Form (grade) has one classroom, so instead of them switching classrooms for different subjects like we do in the U.S. the teachers are the ones that switch classrooms depending on which Forms/Subjects they are teaching. I am teaching Form 1, which is a good thing. They are just as new to the school as I am so we can grow and learn together! Currently my class has 45 students; however that number will vary throughout the first few weeks of school as more students register. Sometimes students have to delay starting school until they are able to collect enough funds for tuition. Each Form has a few hours of classes then we all stop for a 30 minute “tea break” (so British). After our morning tea break it is back to classes until we break for lunch at noon. 

Lunch is prepared for all the students that board at the school in an outdoor kitchen right near our house. Hunger in classrooms is an issue all over Malawi. In any country, if a student is hungry, they are not going to be at their best for learning, so I’m happy that the students staying at SAMSS are able to be fed daily. After lunch it is a few more hours of classes before things wrap up at 3:30.

The students here are offered a wide variety of classes including: English, Chichewa (I’m not sure why I haven’t been asked to teach this class yet), Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Math, Agriculture, Life Skills, Social Studies, Computers, and Bible Knowledge. I have been welcome and guided into the school by all of my now fellow teachers. The people I now work alongside are skilled and loving individuals who work hard to make sure the students in their classrooms succeed. I am excited to continue to work and learn from them throughout the year. Please continue to pray for the students and staff of this beautiful school throughout the school year.

Azungu

Every day I feel like I learn something new about the Malawian culture. One of the things I continue to learn is more about the language they speak here … Chichewa. Chichewa is the official language of Malawi, however there are other ethnic languages that small percentages of the population speak throughout the country.  

Saying that my Chichewa is limited is an understatement. I can say a few basic phrases, and respond to a basic greeting but that is about it. I am looking forward to growing my vocabulary throughout the year. One word that is quickly learned by anyone that looks like me here in Malawi is azungu. Azungu means “white person” and I constantly hear it being chanted by children as they run after our car, as they smile and wave at us, or as they burst into tears because they are not used to seeing someone that looks so different than they do! I have embraced my azungu status here, and hearing this now familiar word continues to bring a smile to my face. 

Since my Chichewa leaves a lot to be desired, I have been relying heavily on the English that the Malawians speak to me. Nine times out of 10 their English is far better than my Chichewa. Only a few times have I met someone that I can tell does not speak any English at all. I find this very impressive, since as an American I only speak English (and if you ask my family, they say sometimes I don’t even speak that well). The language barrier can sometimes be quite a struggle. Sometimes, even when we are being spoken to in English miscommunications happen. 

Yesterday two women from the church stopped by our house to say hello and asked us if we wanted to go watch what we though they called a “student talent show”. Well, turns out they did not say talent show, but instead wanted to show us them teaching students to sew … oops. I’m sure they have just as hard a time understanding our strange Pittsburgh accents sometimes; it’s all just part of the learning curve.

We have been told many times since we arrived here how important learning English is for the people of Malawi. Learning to read, write and speak English gives Malawians a chance to communicate outside the borders of Malawi, to a larger world. My Chichewa lessons with the neighborhood children will continue throughout the year and hopefully as they teach me, I can teach them and we can grow together. Luckily smiling is the same in every language 😊.