Letter from Ghana – by Eli Attipoe
Hello lovely academic fellows,
I am Eli Attipoe, a proud final year student at the University of Cape Coast (Ghana) offering a Bachelor of Education in Arts program, I am majoring in English and minoring in History. This letter is to share with you my expectations, my personal aspirations and the ASA Academia programme of which I am a candidate for the project Decolonizing English Language Teaching and ELT curricula through a bi-directional-learning-and-teaching approach which will take place at the University of Education Karlsruhe, Germany, for the first phase, which starts next week and runs from 22 April to 17 July (German project description here).
I must say I am a very woke person who loves to read books, especially historical literature books, watch movies and I love to sing. I am highly interested in having healthy conversations on trending issues whether it be global, political or education wise, or about entertainment and issues of the rights of marginalized people in society. I am also a person who loves to make friends. Lastly, I have been passionate about sharing knowledge since childhood, this inspired me to pursue a degree in an education program.
You may ask why I opted to enroll in this project called “Decolonizing English Language Teaching and ELT curricula through a bi-directional-learning-and-teaching approach”?
Well, it came with a lot of personal reasons which are positive ones, and the dying need for societal change and improvement. I, as an individual, I am very interested in and believe in the power of Communication and History. These two areas also accounted for the reasons why I am studying English and History at the University. I frequently visit the university library to read books to get more insights on how to communicate and learn more about our not only the African but the world as a whole’s history through further research at the library’s research commons. Learning these two subjects has exposed me to certain issues relating to our education and society as a whole. This ASA project, I believe, relates to both Language and History.
You may ask “how?” This is because without Language how can one read and interpret History and identify certain biases and flaws to correct them. Hence with the knowledge of these two areas it would make my understanding and functionality in this project very easy and relatable.
Moving on, starting with the application for this project, I was very skeptical whether I was going to be selected or not, but due to faith and confidence, I was selected, and so far, the process has been smooth and steady. Most importantly, I recall that this program was introduced to us very late but then after reading about the programme and getting to know more about it, I realised it matched with my personal educational intuitions. I was so happy and a bit surprised when I was part of the shortlisted group who were invited for the interview. I remember when I had to board a car all the way from the school I was doing my off campus at to the University to have my interview. To be honest I was tensed and scared but still confident. The interview also came with it struggles but I loved how all the interviewers made me feel comfortable and listened. One question which I perfectly remember being asked was my favourite African writers. I was so glad to express how well I loved works from Chimamanda Adichie and Buchi Emecheta as these writers inspire me. After everything I was so elated that I got the chance to be in an interview which will give me such an opportunity, I was happy because I had been applying for exchanges abroad before and my efforts had been futile.
My happiness grew stronger as the roots of the Banyan tree when I got selected as a candidate for the project and also when I received my confirmation letter from ASA, that was when I came to terms with reality that this was indeed happening to me.
I was motivated to enroll in this project because as a young student teacher who has been a product of a colonial educational system in terms of content learnt and pedagogical practices applied by my tutors. I believe that this project will equip me with the necessary skills to be able to make a full reflection of myself and deconstruct all colonial ways of English Language Teaching. Furthermore, I am a History student and I have learnt and been exposed to several colonial engagements which went on during the colonial period which still exist even in these days and how it has affected not only Ghana as a country and its citizens but also Africa as a whole. Hence I believe this project will help in the correction of certain assertions made by the Colonial Europeans. I am a strong advocate for equal human rights, feminism, and quality education being provided to every single child in the world. Since I stand, believe, and hold these values and coming to the realization that this project is linked with some of the SDG’S specifically #4,#10,#16 and #17, I did not think twice to join this ASA program and I will always be grateful for this opportunity to learn.
I am currently writing this from my comfort zone in Ghana and I am with high hopes that I will be able to learn a lot from this project and also Professor Isabel Martin, who I am dying to work with, my German partner, lecturers, professors, teachers, and directors I will be working with and also share my thoughts and ideas. I will always avail myself for all seminars, workshops, project works, field trips, lectures and so many more activities. During these activities I will actively present certain practices in ELT classrooms in Ghana which needs modification and I will be so happy to learn and share alternatives which will drive for change. Moreover, I would love to use this opportunity to gain professional and personal growth. Not only that but also to expand my research and explore more research works on decolonization. This will help me attain the opportunity to partake in internships and workshops at the global or international level.
Beyond academics I would love to know more about the educational perspectives of Germans and possibly if there is time I would love to learn the German language. The German(ic) language, which I got to know that is the mother language for English Language since my first year at The University of Cape Coast, Ghana. With that I started taking lessons on the Duolingo app to learn the language. Personally I have made progress with the learning of the German Language. Which is I can hold basic conversation in German so I strongly believe my stay will be smooth. With that being said “Ich möchete in Deutschland schwimmen gehen” which means I would like to swim when I go to Germany.
Also I would want to build long-lasting connections that will contribute to my career and I will share the knowledge gained from this project both with pre-service teachers and in-service teachers in my home country.
Lastly this project really relates with the new curriculum, The Standardized Based Curriculum, that has been developed and implemented here in Ghana and which I was also exposed to during my “Off Campus Teaching Practice” (which is mandatory for all final year education students). The Curriculum talks about teaching becoming more student-centred. I believe the bi-directional approach employed in this project can equip me with the necessary professional skills to be able to implement this new Curriculum in the Ghanaian classroom and also educate my fellow Ghanaian teachers of its importance.
Honestly, I have been so excited through out the entire process because this is a very huge opportunity which can help transform my life and build my professional skills.
In order to familiarize myself with the project, I have taken it upon myself to read articles and research works which are related to Decolonizing and the Bi-directional approach. Also to make sure I have a sturdy and easy stay I have been learning the basics of the German language as I already stated, and I also explored German habits a bit via the Internet. There are few activities Germans engage in which I find amusing and can help my life. Some of these include hiking, riding of bicycles to prevent carbon emission and also having lovely vacations after months of hardwork. In all I love healthy lifestyle or wellbeing of Germans which I wish to learn more from. But, as the saying goes, experience is the best teacher. I have also been having conversations with students who have been on exchange programmes and those who are currently on exchange programmes to gain more insights. Well with most conversations that I have had with them they tell me about all the fun experiences I would have, the nice people I will meet and so on. One person who went for an exchange program last year in Spain gave me a lot of insights whuch has calmed me down because I was a bit overwhelmed about the culture shock. With what he enlightened me on I think I can stand tall and face it like hen which protect it chicks. Mentally, I have psyched myself to accept whatever challenge that comes my way during my stay and battle it out if it gets out of hands I will contact my supervisors or friends for help. I believe there could be racists attacks which I am aware of and emotionally prepared for but if I cannot bear it then I turn to Prof Isabel for help.
As already written I have been doing a lot of research about Karlsruhe and my project as well and there were certain things I noticed that looked fun and amusing. I would love to connect with local schools and learn about their engagements in classroom activities, pedagogical skills of German teachers, use of motivation, and many more. Also for fun I would love to visit aesthetically nice built establishments. Hence, after reading the history of Karlsruhe, I would love to visit the Karlsruhe Palace and Baden State Museum. Furthermore, food is something which I find very essential. Hence, I would love to eat Flammkuchen, I read from the reviews from tourists that it tastes very good. I would also love to visit the Bäckerei (bakery) to enjoy the different types of bread Germans make and also their street food like Doner Kebab, Bratwurst, Kartoffelpuffer and many more I would also love to visit some Bristo coffee shops.
In addition, I would love to take a boat ride on the Rhine River. This will happen if I get some free time I will do so. There are a lot of bustling cities I would love to visit Frankfurt, Strasbourg, Stuttgart and Berlin.
Art, I must say, is something I am highly invested in because they speak for the people and inspire as well. Art symbols from Ghana which are called the Adinkrah symbols. The Adinkra symbols are visual symbols which represents certain concepts in life whether it being spiritual, physical or ethical. These symbols can be found on printed fabrics, painted houses, pottery and many more. They tie Ghanaians together and teaches us life lessons as well. The following Adinkrah symbols are the symbols which hold me in life and keeps on pushing me in life. To start with Gye Nyame which is interpreted as Except for God, Dwennimmen that is the horns of Rams, Eban Nk)so) which denotes Growth and Progress. These three gives me an identity of who I am that is not only being a Ghanaian but someone who upholds and believe in the Ghanaian culture. All these and many more hold me and push me in life. I have a belief that in life if one puts God first in his doing and in doing so, is humble as a ram God in his own time pushes you forward based on your hard work. With all that being said I would love to visit galleries like Staatliche Kunsthalle Karlsruhe and the popular and breath-taking Zentrum fur Kunst und Medien (ZKM) due to my love and unwavering support for artworks.
Moving from one country to another, or even one continent to another, I know presents a lot of challenges such as language barriers, different ideologies, cultural differences, and many more. I try to not let these evoke fear in me as I believe these challenges present an opportunity to grow because it is not easy moving out of one’s comfort zone. With time and effort I believe that I will adjust smoothly since any challenge an individual faces is a learning experience. With this I want to be able to construct, deconstruct, reconstruct, connect and network.
At last we have come to the end of this letter and all I can say is I am looking forward to boarding the airplane and landing in Karlsruhe! I know and I am sure that it is going to be a fun, learning and exciting stay there. Stay tuned and let me be your eyes in Karlsruhe.
Thank you.
Text by Eli Attipoe
Photos by Samuel Akwasi Yeboah & Eli Attipoe
Copyright of images:
Amosah, Bosomba, cropped by Pablo Busatto, 2020. “Eban (Adinkra).png” [illustration]. Accessed April 19, 2025. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Eban_%28Adinkra%29.png. CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons. No changes were made.
Busatto, Pablo, 2020. “Dwinnimmen (Adinkra card).svg [illustration]. Accessed April 19, 2025. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dwennimmen_%28Adinkra_card%29.svg. CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons. No changes were made.
Kane, Aditya, 2022. “Banyan Tree in Pune, India” [illustration]. Accessed April 19, 2025. https://wordpress.org/photos/photo/70161e01cf/. CC0 licensed Aditya Kane from the WordPress Photo Directory.
Kobebigs, 2013. “University Library complex.JPG” [illustration]. Accessed April 19, 2025. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fc/University_Library_complex.JPG. CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons. No changes were made.
United Nations/UNESCO, 2017. “Sustainable Development Goals ru.png” [illustration]. Accessed April 19, 2025. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sustainable_Development_Goals_ru.png#filelinks. CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons. No changes were made.
Yellowfiver, 2012. “Gye nyame2.png” [illustration]. Accessed April 19, 2025. https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Gye_nyame2.png&oldid=994148624. CC0 1.0 <https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/deed.en> via Wikimedia Commons.
