Back Story

Last fall I applied for a Fulbright teaching exchange; the process included a lengthy application complete with essay and recommendations, and later an interview. Then I waited, and waited, and waited. In May I was told that I would probably not be matched with anyone for the upcoming school year. However, approximately two weeks later I was notified that they had found a match for me in Ghana (my first choice location). I have spent the summer preparing physically and emotionally for the year to come. The physical part, although arduous, is by far the easier part (although I have no idea how to pack for a year abroad). The emotional part is still a work in progress: sometimes I am able to think that “whatever will be will be” and other times I lose sleep because I wonder if I will do well teaching in a new environment subjects somewhat different than those I teach in the United States. I will be teaching one section of Government, mostly government theory rather than a study of Ghanaian government, and two sections of Social Studies, which seems to be a little bit of everything. I will have approximately 50 students in each class. The method of teaching, I have been told, is direct instruction (lecture) rather than the student-centered instruction we aim for at my home school. I am told there will be many other differences as well – education in America is very focused on the use of technology, my classroom here has a television, DVD player and VCR, an overhead projector, and I have a laptop. Other teachers in my school have LCD projectors and Smartboards. In Ghana I will have a blackboard (really a section of wall painted black); there is also a computer lab where the students take computer classes. I asked about using an overhead projector, and was told that I could borrow one, or an LCD projector, from the American Embassy in Ghana; however, the rooms are likely too bright (no blinds on the windows) to use them effectively. This year will challenge me to be creative in how I share information with my students and how we make sure they learn it!

I leave this coming Saturday (August 30) and arrive in Ghana the following morning to begin my year-long adventure. The school year is three terms long. First term is September through December with a two or three week break for Christmas, Second term is from January through the beginning of April followed by a three week break for Easter, Third term is from the end of April through the beginning of August followed by a five week summer break.