TRANSITION CLASSES KABIYE TO FRENCH
AFASA(Association of Women for Literacy, Health and Development)
BP 57, Kara, TOGO
HISTORY
AFASA, in its fifteenth year, works among 25 groups of Kabiye women in the north of Togo. Literacy classes are an activity in the AFASA program. During the past several years of the literacy program hundreds of women have learned to read and write. They have access to a variety of books including health, development and Scriptures.
PROJECT OBJECTIVES
To help 50 women understand how to speak and read in French, thus giving them confidence in themselves and facilitating their visits to the cities where they try to sell their produce and must conduct business in French.
PROJECT COST: $1, 571
PROJECT JUSTIFICATION
Many women in AFASA have already learned to read and write in Kabiye. These women attended public school (offered in French) for only two or three years and they cannot understand either the oral or written French. French is the language of the schools and the language for business. The motivation of these women and their interest in French are the reasons that led AFASA to consider transition classes from Kabiye to French to allow them an entrance into the French language.
The creation of transition classes will permit them to improve their commercial activities (especially in the cities where the buying and selling often requires French). It will also help women who desire to learn a trade (i.e. sewing, hair dressing) as these are often taught in French.
Research shows that learning to read in one's own language makes it easier to learn another language. These women have already learned to read and write in their own language and should make a good transition to French.
If the transition classes are successful, AFASA will be able to expand the work to more of its 25 groups.
TARGET GROUP
Fifty women from one sub-area of AFASA work (five villages in the Bebeda area, south west of Kara in the north of Togo).
LENGTH OF PROJECT AND LOCATION
Two years of classes are planned.
The five chosen villages/groups are south-west of Kara. One must leave the paved road and travel about 15 miles on poorly maintained dirt roads to reach them.
EXPECTED RESULTS
50 women able to understand, speak and write in French with a sixth grade level.
50 women who are able to:
• Fill in certain necessary French papers (orders, bank accounts etc.)
• Understand simple instructions in French
write simple letters or stories in French
• At the end of two years, 25% of these women will start learning a trade.
• 75% of these women will be able to help their children with their French school lessons.
PROJECT ACTIVITIES
• Train a supervisor who will train teachers for the five groups. The supervisor will be sent to the association of Tin Tua, BP 167 FADA N'Gourma, Burkina Faso for her training. The training program was developed with the aid of UNESCO and is a successful way to teach French in this area of Africa using both aural and written pedagogy.
• Material preparation (flannelgraph pictures are used)
• Training for 5 teachers for pilot classes
• Translation classes in five pilot groups
• Supervision/evaluation of classes
• Annual exams
• Graduation ceremonies
• Reports/evaluations yearly
FACTORS OF SUCCESS AND FAILURE SUCCESS:
Follow-up will be important.
The teachers and learners will need encouragement.
A nursery for the children who accompany their mothers to class.
Willingness to work.
FACTORS WHICH MIGHT LEAD TO FAILURE:
Field work preventing the women from attending class.
Illnesses
Misunderstanding of the program.
Lack of motivation.
Lack of food preparation (That is, on class days the women must learn to prepare their family meals ahead of time. Otherwise they must leave class early to return home for meal preparation.)
SPECIFIC EXPENSES
Supervisor training (course, travel, lodging) $663
Teacher training (lodging, transportation - 5 women + supervisor for one week) $280
Salary for Supervisor for teacher training $100
Supervision of teachers and classes $220
Class materials $208
Small recompenses for the teachers, supervisor plus recompense to supervisor for month of work lost during her training $100
TOTAL $1, 571
AFASA AFRICA inquiries@afasaafrica.com Copyright 2007-2012, All Rghts Reserved. __________________________
