adminWillard Mubururu
“I AM not an English Language T.B. Joshua moving all over the schools baptising students and teachers in the name of English Language,” remarked the architect, author and director of Manicaland Teachers Without Schools (MATWS). The above words were the first step in an unforgettable educational journey which was littered with ecstasy that Morris Mtisi delivered to an ‘O’ Level class at Alpha Institute recently.
When I first heard about Mtisi’s proposal to support teaching through skills development, I mused in apprehension. I thought yours truly was putting too many irons in the fire and feared that he would shoot himself in the foot and harm himself permanently.
But, alas, it was not long before I was compelled to swallow my apprehension, bait, hook and sinker.
Mtisi’s assertion, “Introductions are useful ways of wasting time,” introduced the importance in English Language of the essay writing skills such as flashback, dialogue, quotation, creating atmosphere, symbolic names and diction to mention but a few. It is either you know the skills or you don’t. If you know them, you will apply them in the teaching and learning of the writing of, for example, an effective beginning (not introduction).
If you don’t, you will perennially grope and fumble in the darkness of ignorance and confusion and despicable subject results will haunt you even in your retirement and death. It is no small wonder that the intervention in strategic areas of teaching and learning is a refresher course for me as it prevents me from gathering educational dust and rust whilst living on the top educational drawer.
Many a teacher has virtually stopped to learn because they have been degreed or certificated. Such teachers have gone the dinosaur way because they have failed to adapt to change.
Exposure to strategic consultancy service such as offered by Mr Mtisi or other specialist resource persons or experts has transformed me into a multidimensional teacher-a teacher who among other attributes can add one on one and come out with three. Good teachers learn from others.
It is often said “If you do not travel, you will probably think your mother is the best cook.” The adage is indeed, true for Alpha Institute students who had the rare privilege of listening to essential essay writing skills being presented to them from two points of view- the Morris way and Mubururu way.
The road to a visiting expert is a journey that is less travelled by many teachers as they may feel belittled by the experience and expertise of the former.
Lest we forget! Students, benefit more from a change in the voice, personality and emphasis (on material taught) even though the material delivered may be essentially the same.
Having been a passenger on yours truly’s English Language essay writing plane, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and cannot wait for the next flight. It is a journey I cannot afford to miss.
Willard Mubururu is an English Language and Literature in English classroom practitioner of remarkable experience. He taught at Murambinda Government High School, Dora High School, Nyamauru High School and Mutare Polytechnic.
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