August 19th 2005

            Patandi’s Song: the kids line up every morning to sing this before school starts.  If a student is running into line when the song starts, they must stop dead in their tracks.  They are not allowed to move until the song is over. 

Mungu ibariki Africa (God bless Africa)

Wabariki viongozi wake, (and bless the African leaders)

Hekima umoja na amani, (and the unity/wisdom and peace)

Hizi ni ngao zetu (this is our national emblem)

Africa na watu wake (Africa with its people)

Ibariki Africa (x2) ((God) bless Africa)

Tubariki watoto wa Africa. (Bless us as we are African children)

Mungu ibariki Tanzania, (God bless Tanzania)

Dumisha uhuru na umoja, (strengthen the freedom and unity)

Wake kwa waume na watoto, (men and women and children)

Hizi ni ngao zetu (these are our emblems)

Tanzania na watu wake (Tanzania and its people)

Ibariki Tanzania (x2) (bless Tanzania)

Tubariki watoto wa Tanzania (bless us as children of Tanzania)

Today I found that the most effective teaching strategy was to introduce the concept, say some examples out loud, then write some examples, have them say some examples, and then use the exercises in the book as homework.  The more repetition, the better – even if I feel like we’ve gone over it a zillion times.  After class I was in the teachers’ office and I taught Mgeni a way I had learned how to multiply by 9s with your fingers and he loved it.  It was a nice little cultural exchange.