#Back2school: A Day in a Bilingual Class

It is 7:30am and the bell goes, announcing assembly on this first day of the 2022 / 2023 academic year in this bilingual school downtown Yaounde.

Pupils from class one to six of the three sections of this school converge on the assembly ground.

The flag is hoisted, the national anthem is sung and a prayer said. Some announcements are then made and the pupils dismissed to start their first day of the new school year.

Over in the Bilingual Section, there is little or no time to waste as the scheme of work is broad.

However, this first week is all about introductions and basic guidelines as the school year begins.

Mimi Gladys Kenne and Sandrine Ngounou teach Class One and Two in the bilingual section of this nursery and primary school.

They explain to us that for this first week, Class One and Two pupils of the Bilingual Section will share the same classroom as they get to meet their teachers and be introduced to their scheme of work.

Bilingual Education: Not an Easy Route yet Worthwhile

Sandy arrives with her daughter to get acquainted with this year’s scheme of work. She is greeted with a long booklist of textbooks to be bought for her daughter.

Next, her daughter’s exercise books are separated into the various subjects in English, then in French…. Over a dozen books!

Mimi Gladys Kenne explains that pupils in the bilingual section do each subject in both English and French.

She admits that it is not easy but it is worth the salt as the pupils will come out perfectly bilingual.

Day One, Orientation

When all the pupils were settled, their two teachers began the day by introducing themselves in both languages.

This was followed by directives on how to obtain permission.

The children were also told where to go ease themselves and cautioned on the need for good conduct.

#BackToSchool
At the Bilingual Section of a Primary School downtown Yaounde, pupils spent the first day of school getting to know their teachers and the conduct expected of them.

uo CRTVweb ʎq pəʇsod ʎɐpuoɯ, ɹəqɯəʇdəS 5, 2022

They were also drilled on how to greet their teachers and other visitors on campus.

All these directives were given in both French and English, typical of a bilingual class.

The pupils also took turns to introduce themselves.

By 10:30am the bell went out for break time and when the pupils returned, the introduction session continued till their second break at 12:30 and then closing at 2pm.

Day one down, many more days to go!

Eleanor Ayuketah Ngochi

Laisser un commentaire

Votre adresse e-mail ne sera pas publiée. Les champs obligatoires sont indiqués avec *

Ce site utilise Akismet pour réduire les indésirables. En savoir plus sur comment les données de vos commentaires sont utilisées.