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Teaching English in Ghana
Christina Ridley-Thomas took time out to go to Ghana and teach English as a foreign language with i-to-i, an organisation which specialises in TEFL and volunteer placements overseas. Here, she shares her experiences of living and working in Accra, and experiencing Ghanaian life first hand.
I went to Accra for a month with i-to-i to work as a volunteer English teacher in a school. I learnt so much about Ghanaian culture in the short time I was there - it was very rewarding.
My classes were mostly made up of young kids, who were absolutely wonderful. I took some colouring pencils out with me and we had a great time drawing pictures together. They loved listening to stories and singing songs with me. I had to be creative with my teaching as there were few resources to fall back on - just me, my blackboard and the kids!
I made some great friends in Accra. We'd go to the local fish market down on the beach at James Town every morning to buy fish that we'd cook together that evening. Fantastic!
I spent endless evenings sitting at the omelette lady's table playing Oware. Oware is a great game (very mathematical - that's why I always lost!), and most people in West Africa know how to play it. The locals would never miss an opportunity to play an Obroni (foreigner) and beat them! And I'm convinced that part of the game is knowing how to cheat and get away with it, but I was never good enough to cheat.
Ghanaians love music - native Hiplife and Highlife music is great. When you're in a bar and it's playing, there`s something about the beat and the feel-good atmosphere that make it impossible to sit still!
I will miss the early morning Gospel music being played from the house next door, the chop bar up the road with the best fried chicken and rice in Accra, the children shouting "hello, how are you?" as I walked down the street, the pineapples at Kokrobite, Tampico orange drinks and Fan ice cream.
It would take pages and pages to tell you about the other great times I had there - going to buy beads at Makola market, a day of luxury at La Palm Hotel in Kokrobite at the weekend or the Boti Falls near Koforidua. There are some mind-blowing places to see. I will be back to see and do all the things I never had the time to do.
To my friends in Mamprobi - "don't dip your hands in my soup"!
Go to Ghana.
For more information on TEFL and other volunteer holidays, visit www.i-to-i.com.
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