In 1984, when I arrived in
Ngaoundal, Cameroon, a village of 1200 people on a train and highway crossroads, it was after 10PM. I've written in more detail about how there was no one expecting me, the new English teacher at CES Ngaoundal in Adamoua. No housing, no post office, no bank.
I remember a rumor which circulated in the town. People were concerned that I was teaching the kids "American English", and that they would not be prepared for the
brevet exam, which was in British English. I thought that was
poppycock, though I did run across bizarre words like "lorry" and "flat" in the textbooks. I was fluent in Fawlty Towers and Monty Python.
At one point, the mayor (sous-prefet) of the town called me in, with the principle, for a meeting to confront the rumors in town that I was preparing the kids in the wrong language. I promised I was fluent in proper English and capable of teaching it, despite my USA passport, and my lack of certification.
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