Teachers from all over the country converged in Eldoret for the Languages teachers’ workshop in both Kiswahili and English. The Event was organized by Art Flame Entertainment Incorporation, an Eldoret arts-based entertainment group.
The event was to bring language teachers from all over the country for an enlightening session in all the three papers of Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) in both English and Kiswahili.
The teachers were indulged in a lively session by renowned facilitators who are seasoned examiners and teachers that have registered exemplary results in the past years.
The chief guest Prof Egara Kabaji Deputy Vice Chancellor at Masinde Muliro University, comprehensively looked into capacity building of language teachers in the mastery of content and pedagogy.
“Language is a significant tool of communication and more so in utilizing the literature in the teaching of the 21st century skills, a synchronic segmental morphology of standard languages enhances conscious attention to formal and structural aspects of language which is crucial for successful language learning,” said Kabaji.
Kabaji stressed the need to utilize mainstream classrooms as teachers understand their role as language teachers.
“If we teach math, then we teach the language of mathematics. If we teach science, then we teach the language of science. Math teachers, in other words, should take the time to teach the unfamiliar vocabulary of mathematics, subtracting, calculating, and solving concurrently with the teaching of math skills,” Kabaji noted.
On his contribution Prof John Habwe who took the mantle on highlighting challenges faced by Kiswahili teachers insisted on the Trans language pedagogy which starts with students’ strengths. Teachers recognize the language and social resources that students possess.
“The importance of language for learning cannot be overstated. Language underpins all school-based learning. Specifically, language allows pupils to participate in class, access the curriculum, negotiate academic literacies and succeed in examinations,” said Habwe.
He informed Language plays a central role in teaching and learning. Teachers use language to deliver the content that students are expected to learn, and students use it, for instance, to demonstrate the knowledge that they have developed.
The convention of teachers and professional development (PD) was a measure of interventions that aim to prepare teachers to support their students in mastering language skills across the curriculum.
The workshop equipped teachers with necessary skills to prepare students to face the national exams ahead, given the short period they are to undertake in covering the syllabus and excelling in their exams.
The workshop attracted 600 teachers from over 20 counties and they were elated to have a one-on-one session with the seasoned examiners. It was an auspicious occasion that enabled teachers to exchange ideas and network to make their teaching outcome a success.
By Hassan Adan Ali
