Student tutor

Today after school I was invited by one of my students to go to her house for dinner. Idah is not one of my smartest students, she has a lot of trouble with most subjects and does not speak or understand English very well. She is 20 years old and repeating form 3 (the equivalent of high school junior year) for the second time. But she is definitely one of the most ambitious and hard working. She constantly comes to me for help with problems or to define words that she doesn't understand. She wanted me to come to her house because everyday after school she voluntarily helps tutor primary school children that live in her area. I went to help them with their English. After walking for about thirty minutes, and of course greeting every person we passed, we arrived at Idah's house where students were already studying. All of the children were around ages 5-14. None were wearing shoes, and all looked positively terrifyed of me when I walked up. A neighbor was sitting on the porch helping the younger children with their letters. She had an old window shutter that was being used as a chalkboard and helping students trace and write the letters of the alphabet in the dirt. Some of the older students were working on math problems in their excersise books. The chickens and goats running around the yard didn't phase them at all, but at one point, when a plane flew by, everyone stopped what they were doing to stare and point excitedly at the tiny dot moving across the sky. After Idah and I ate we took over the lessons and taught some English. The kids sang the alphabet song, the days of the week song, and a months of the year song. They pointed out and named parts of their body. Then I attempted to teach them some colors. I pointed out a blue chair: "mpando ndi blue!" And green grass and a shirt: " maudzu ndi malaya ndi green!" They repeated the words, but didn't seem to understand the concept. So instead we started to talk in Chichewa about things we like. I told them I like teaching, I like Malawi and America, and I like my family, and I asked what they liked. The group of 6-10 year old girls told me that they like to cook nsima and pump water. It was a strong reminder of the tough lives and gender inequality that these young students face everyday. After the lessons I said goodbyes and headed back to my house. I admire Idah so much for all that she is doing to help these students everyday, and I will definitely be going back to help when I can.