SEGA's English Fluency Program teaches English-as-a-Third Language
SEGA’s English Fluency program was started in 2015 by Nurturing Minds’ founding board member, Sherley Young to help SEGA’s youngest students quickly learn to speak and understand English using a stress-free method of drama, games, music, and activities. The goal of the English Fluency program is for girls to have confidence in speaking and understanding English so they can be successful in secondary school.
When a girl is born in Tanzania, she learns her “mother tongue” that is spoken in her village. Once in primary school, she is required to learn in Kiswahili, and when she reaches secondary school, all of her schooling is taught in English. English becomes her third language.
The SEGA Girls’ Secondary School is an English-only campus with the premise that English is a global language and the contemporary world is looking for creative individuals who can speak English well, confidently, and without hesitation. Students begin at SEGA in “Pre Form,” after they have taken their Standard 7 exams (the end of primary school) and before they begin Form 1 (the beginning of secondary school). The majority of students have little English language knowledge prior to arriving at SEGA and a short timeframe to become fluent in reading, writing, and speaking English. Because of this challenge, Nurturing Minds’ volunteers developed the English Fluency (EF) program. These students alternate between a standard classroom led by an English teacher and the EF volunteers to capture all learning styles. Fluency is reached when she can confidently, easily, and accurately express herself in English.
In addition to language, the EF program also covers basic mathematics and science to ensure girls are competent in these subjects when starting Form 1. During the two months of English Fluency training, the girls also get accustomed to boarding school life, the school schedule, and rules. Thus, this is a precious opportunity for Pre Form students as they begin their four years at SEGA.
Four EF trips have taken place over the past five years with volunteers from the U.S. and Canada staying at SEGA over a two week period. This year, due to COVID-19, volunteers were not able to travel and SEGA hired four Tanzanian, university-educated teachers experienced in teaching English. Concurrently, a group of volunteers based in the United States collaborated to enhance the EF curriculum for future volunteers to use. The Committee, made of up 10 women knowledgeable in curriculum development and English language learning, met consistently over the past nine months to develop a highly-scripted, day-by-day guide in teaching English so that volunteers of any background can step in and take part in teaching English to SEGA’s Pre Form students, and an evaluation was created to assess the impact of volunteers and program on the students.
One positive aspect of limited travel during this pandemic is the increased use of video conferencing. Prior to this year and through the EF program, Pre Form girls had been exposed to meeting foreigners, performing skits, dress-up, music, science projects, and lots of laughs that come with visitors on campus. In an effort to show this class of girls that they have support from people across the world who are rooting for their success, we held a Zoom Welcome Meeting. Students shared where they are from and a little about their families, and participants gave each girl words of encouragement. In December, we held a Farewell Ceremony Zoom where the girls showcased what they learned through stories and music. It was a delight and amazing to see the difference the nine week course made in the girl’s English speaking ability. You can see some of the video clips below.
In between the Welcome and Farewell sessions, the English Fluency Committee had their own video sessions with the girls to expose them to the curriculum that they were developing. Feedback from the teachers was that in the beginning, the girls were shy and not fully understanding what people were saying. With each session, the girls became more confident and vied to be first in front of the camera.
We truly are grateful to the English Fluency Committee, Supporters, and Volunteers who joined in each of these video sessions. We hope to resume the English Fluency Program in October 2021 and welcome you to volunteer.
- Written by Julie Bourgoin, Program Officer, Nurturing Minds
Watch this year’s English Fluency Program Welcome meeting and Farewell Ceremonies by clicking the links below:
Note: Please contact Julie Bourgoin at julie@nurturingmindsinafrica.org for more information about volunteering with the English Fluency Program.