ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING IN NIGER

A brief description of the schooling system in Niger
The present State of Niger is the emanation of the French colonial will. It is quite normal that it inherited French schooling system. In Niger, children go to school at the age of 6 to7. After six years of Primary education, they reach middle school and spend four more years before entering secondary school. After three years of secondary school, students go either to University or vocational training school.
English is a compulsory subject right from the first level of middle school (students aged 12) up to the last level of secondary school (students aged 19). Nowadays English is taught even in some private elementary schools.

English teaching materials
Up to 1992, the main manual used in middle school was English for French Speaking Africa (Mills Edition) under the supervision of the British Council. After this period, Niger has opted for the exclusive use of American English, hence the introduction of the new manual “EFTS” English for the Sahel written by a team of Nigeriens ELT professionals and American Consultants. The four levels of middle schools have their students’ books and teachers’ manuals. In High schools, teachers still use manuals like “Today’s English”, “English Africa” “go for English” and recently a manual by Nigeriens called “English for Teminale Classes”. In 2007 a team of Nigeriens and American consultants under the supervision of Peace Corps Niger and a grant from the RELO undertook the revision of EFTS 6e and 5e level books.

A few changes in English teaching!
English was taught five hours a week in 6e and 5e levels, four Hours in 4e and 3e up to 2008. But from 2009, the time allotted to this subject has been reduced in 6e and 5e level. Now it is taught 4 hours a week in all levels of middle school. In high school there has also been some modifications as far as English teaching is concerned but it is rather regarding the grading of examinations. In arts oriented classes like Seconde A, to Terminale A English is now scored over 60 points, while it used to be scored over 80. Similarly in Science oriented classes like Seconde C to Terminale C and D where English which used to be scored over 60 is now scored over 40.

Teachers of English: initial and in-service training
After independence, English was taught generally by English speaking expatriates (Ghana, Peace Corps volunteers…). Now almost all English teachers are Nigeriens graduates of the Teacher training School (Ecole Normale Superieur) or the English Department of the University of Niamey. However with the advent of Voluntary and contract based teachers, one frequently comes across unqualified English teacher who have not received any training but simply studied other subjects (Computer science, management...) in neighboring English speaking countries.
To compensate for the lack of training, English teachers are offered in-service training by the ELP of the American Cultural Center in collaboration with the English branch of the National Pedagogic Inspectorate. The ELP offers also E-Learning to some teachers through ECA with various American Universities. The in-service training is repeated during vacation to make it possible for inner country teachers who happen to be in Niamey for vacation, to take advantage of it. The training team also goes to surrounding places to deliver the same training sessions. In schools, Pedagogic Units (UPs) are regularly held by teachers in order to exchange best practices, mentor new teachers and discuss teaching strategies and schedules. UPs are group of teachers of the same subject in a school who gather to work on their subject teaching. Teachers are also visited regularly by teacher trainers (Itinerant English teachers Advisers and inspectors) who observe them and provide them with good advice as far as their job is concerned. There is also a library at the American Cultural Center where teachers go not only to check out materials, but also to use the computer internet access for their research. In the inner country, American Corners provide the same service to teachers of English.