Eric Owusu-Yeboah Owusu-Yeboah

There is a stark difference between teaching at a resourced private school in Ghana as compared to teaching in a very resource-limited public and private schools in rural areas in Ghana. This was precisely the kind of challenge I enjoyed. The challenge required I simplify my communication yet also diversify my thinking regarding what pedagogies work best for students for whom English is a second language, who come from ethnically and linguistically diverse communities, and who in most cases had not experienced a student-centered approach to teaching and learning. The demands were many. The daily and periodic responsibilities of teaching were just the beginning. To be successful it became imperative that I simultaneously nurture a cross-cultural awareness to enable me to become attuned to the multicultural views that circulated so naturally in Ghana. This nurtured my awareness of each student's internal motivation and to the values that drive each student. This broadly speaking ethic of care, is a defining feature of how I teach.

Another key feature of my approach to teaching is to foster a sense of fun in the student learning space. I have found that important concepts whether in English or social studies are often much better received by students if those concepts are embedded in an enjoyable or practical activity. However, the reality is that it is not always smooth sailing. Classes can stall if student behaviour is allowed to interrupt activities and distract from the learning goal, in which case assertive yet supportive behaviour management techniques become vital.
Balancing a sense of fun with an authoritative vision toward the target learning goal requires vigilance and confidence. This is a skill that I continue to nurture.