Reaching Real People

I. Promoting learning English through a radio programme.
In the early years of my career, I became aware of all these difficulties and started to take individual initiatives in search of alternatives. I felt that I was bound to fight and find new sources of motivation for my students if I were to achieve any growth in my teaching career. We first tried with an English Club but still it didn’t draw as many students as we were expecting. Then in November 1999 I came up with the idea of starting a radio programme in English meant for the students. At that moment there was a boom of private FM radio stations in the country (three in Kaolack). When the idea was accepted by one local station I immediately consulted some colleagues in the school. We made up a listening programme with a phone-in. It was meant to bridge the gap for a much needed practice of the language. I started up with a fifteen-minute programme, and soon got half an hour and then an hour, due to the constant calls, mails and people asking to come to the studio. You wouldn’t imagine it, my audience includes students and non-students as well. The programme goes on even during the vacation period. Even the other schools in the neighbouring villages around Kaolack participate in the programme through mails or by invitation. “ English Fans’ Programme” is what we call it. Now we even have the support of the BBC English programme who gives us cassettes with English lessons to broadcast! The programme comes on air every Sunday from seven to eight pm.