Dahmat, External English Teacher [Portrait]

Far from the land of his ancestors, Mohamed Owala pursued his studies brilliantly until he decided to return to his native village and share some knowledge with the residents of the area. They now look forward to every weekend. On Saturday morning, the children of Tascourt (Sichuan Province) gathered to find Tahmad (Sidi Mohammed).

“I used to go there during school holidays and dreamed of spending more time there. After the Covid-19 health crisis, my dream came true as I spent almost eight months here with my family,” he told Yabiladi.

During the months spent in his native land, the 24-year-old became more attached to the place and its inhabitants. Then he decides to go there every weekend. “The children accidentally discovered that I was studying English, and I always asked the same question: ‘Is it true that you are an English teacher?’ “I didn’t want to teach them the language in a traditional way. Because I love nature and mountains, I chose the great outdoors, far from the urban monotony,” he told us.

A combination of playful learning and fulfillment

Tahmad wanted to kill two birds with one stone, meaning that he designed his classrooms not only for teaching but also for the development of children. “There are many places for children in the city, which offers a series of activities, which is not the case in the countryside. So I decided that they should learn English.

With a keen and developed sense of detail, the teacher tries to blend in with the dress habits of the locals to make her students feel more at home and break the ice. He gives them many activities during which he speaks English.

“For example, when I stand up and say to someone, ‘Come here,’ he sees the movement I make with my hand and he understands what I mean,” he explains. For a change of atmosphere and better language learning, Tahmad uses the family home where he shows English language films suitable for youth and educational purposes. “I didn’t forget to prepare popcorn for them so that they can enjoy the atmosphere of the cinema better!”, he said happily.

“When they hear the words they’ve already learned with me, they congratulate themselves for understanding them and are able to understand the dialogue between the actors. I am very proud,” he told us again. In Dahmad’s outdoor classes, the number of children is not small. “In every session, I am surprised by the arrival of new students, and even if not, the children inform each other and help each other stay updated. This makes me very happy” Tahmad says.

The young man not only succeeded in teaching the children English but also gave them confidence in themselves and their abilities. They are now projecting themselves towards a better future beyond the classic and standardized curriculum of their elders in the village. “Over time, their responses were completely different. I try to change their way of looking at things and send them positive energy. Their village needs its children, whether they work in water, electricity or health, to get rid of the problems it is experiencing,” he says.

Reconciliation with ancestral cultures

Tahmat now enjoys the trust of his parents in the village. “At first, my appearance was a bit of a concern. I was seen as an outsider, but when people saw what I presented to their children, my style returned to normal,” she said.

The teacher considers himself lucky, because he was able to learn Amazigh thanks to them, in addition to the satisfaction of spending happy moments and sharing knowledge with these children.

The author moved from the campus of his Amazigh origin to the ambassador of his Amazigh culture through social networks, highlighting ancestral aspects of clothing or other traditions. He wants youngsters to keep in touch with English and not drop out of school. “If they leave the benches, they will at least have mastered the English language and that will open doors for them,” he says.