The First Week

            Thinking back to the reflection I wrote last week before my first class, I can’t help but feel amused at how nervous and anxious I was to begin teaching. To begin with, it was something Abaan – who teaches with me – said as we walked into the camp at The Pearl. I had been complaining all day about how nervous I was and how the whole experience was going to be a disaster, until finally he told me to stop and think about the migrant workers instead. At least I was in my comfort zone – these learners were going to walk into a room and spend the next 2 hours communicating in a language that did not come as easy and naturally as it does to us. They were going to sit there and be taught a new language by students a lot younger than them. How would that make them feel? If I was nervous, the group of men due to attend their first Language Bridges class must be much more on edge.

So it was not a total surprise when the moment I walked into the classroom on Wednesday evening I became at ease. Gradually, I felt like I had been doing this forever, rather than it being my first class. Mostly this was due to the friendly and warm nature of our learners, which was evident right from when they walked in and greeted us. Over the next 2 hours as we got to know our group and talk to them about where they come from, their families, whether they have any children or not, their jobs, etc. I was reminded of something another Language Bridges teacher had told me the day before. I understood then what this person had meant when they said you personally feel tiny and grossly ungrateful in comparison to the sheer enthusiasm these learners express just to be able to learn Basic English. I spend every day attending classes that cover a range of differing subjects, however continue to take my education and exposure for granted, whereas if you were to spend some time with this group of learners you would think they were studying the most fascinating topics in the world.

I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the learners’ English and how much more advanced it was than I had been anticipating. There were points during the class where Abaan and I felt sheepish for being equipped with such easy and basic materials. We were constantly improvising and trying to come up with new ideas on the spot to keep our learners interested and entertained. We quickly realised by how much we had underestimated their language skills and the speed at which they can learn new things. Towards the end, after giving them the pre-test, we explained the concept of Hangman to them and encouraged them to come up to the board and make up their own words. One of the learners was so enthusiastic that he wanted to have several chances even though he had not been in the room while we explained the rules and concept of the game.

Overall, I loved my first class and could not stop gushing about how amazing and talented my learners are to anyone who would listen. I cannot wait to continue spending time with them and teach them as much as I can. During a really tough and stressful semester, it is nice to know that there is something I can look forward to every week. Becoming a part of Language Bridges was definitely one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. 

~ Reham Shaikh