adminTOBIAS M’bhangi Mlambo (TMM) is head of English Department and teacher in charge of academic affairs at Rimbi High School in Chipinge District. I recently had the pleasure of an interview with the English guru.
MM: Welcome to Teachers’ Forum, rabbi!
TMM: Thank you, Mr MM.
MM: Rimbi High has a good story to tell about examination results. You have enjoyed space to tell this story in The Manica Post recently. Well done, m’sharuka! And the incentive bullock donated by an inspired parent. Ndiko kubusazve! What a beefy celebration!
TMM: We are still feasting on the donated beast. We continue to remember the unsolicited donation. Tinovabonga aChirimambowa. We are extremely thankful to Mr Chirimambowa.
MM: What is the English Language part of the good story of excellent teaching and perfect learning here?
TMM: There have been considerable improvements particularly in recent years to the extent that some students without five ‘O’ Level scored passes in English Language. We even have cases of some of our students passing English Language only.
MM: What is it you do that other high schools in your vicinity, without a similar success story, fail to do or cannot do? What expertise do you want to share with other teachers of English Language?
TMM: First, the school head’s participatory style of administration works like magic. He is actively supportive of teachers’ initiatives and always strives to maintain the positive school tone that is typical of the school.
A GOOD TEACHER OF English Language should be very resourceful and should be a keen reader who strives to improve his or her teaching skills all the time.
The way the teacher teaches this year should be different in the next year. Liaison with colleagues in the profession to learn from each other is crucial.
MM: Do you follow columns on the teaching and learning of English Language? What aspects do you want to see included in the future?
TMM: I am an avid reader of your columns and I follow them religiously inasmuch as they have added immense value to my teaching. Stories of schools that have success stories to share with others must be frequently featured on your columns. Listen, sir, your columns have become our columns really; please cover the success stories of ever-improving achievements. They make teachers wiser and give them a window of opportunity to continue to learn.
MM: You remember the workshop I facilitated two, three years ago . . . attended by English teachers representing nearly 10 high schools?
What happened to that initiative? I thought that was the beginning of a drive to revive, reinvigorate, rejuvenate, re-orientate, the English teacher?
TMM: I thought so too. Only when they saw our pass rate rise far higher than their own did they begin to see how good workshops matter and make a difference.
MM: Attitude disease, is it fair to say?
TMM: Absolutely! I remember one workshop I was going to facilitate. Before the workshop a few teachers were grumbling and moaning; “Munode kutironzerei chetisikaziyi? What do you think you can teach us that we don’t know? After the workshop, one of them confessed, “I have learnt a lot. I thought I knew everything. I don’t. Now I know much more.”
(To be continued next week)
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