I’m unique because I’ve been where you are today, and it wasn’t all that long ago. I’m not some expert who has been teaching Somali for 20 years and has long since forgotten what it feels like to be in the beginning stages. I’m someone who figured out proven strategies that work and wants to share my method with you.

This is a conversation that has raged on throughout the last few years about whether non-native language teachers match up to natives. I am Somali. But having grown up in the UK, I forgot how to speak Somali. I’ve been studying Somali for many years and lived in Somaliland for the past 10 years. But, let’s take a look at why I as a non-native Somali teacher excel in the classroom:

1. Experience is the best teacher
I have a better understanding of the learning process than native teachers, as I have gone through it. I made the mistakes and learnt from them so I am able to give my students advice on how not to get caught in the usual traps. Native speakers know and use the language, but they can’t always explain how they’re doing it. We can’t use a foreign language if we don’t understand its basic rules and those are rarely taught to the native speakers, as opposed to non-natives that have to learn Somali grammar with all its intricacies, from zero.

2. Setting a good example
One of the biggest advantages that I as a non-native teacher have is all the hard work I had to put in to reach the level of language proficiency that allowed me to teach. This can provide students with much-needed confidence and motivation to see that it’s possible to learn Somali to that level.

3. Pot, meet kettle
I have another advantage. Speaking the same or similar language as the student’s means that I can demonstrate when there are similarities between Somali and English or Arabic, as well as highlight the differences where they might need to take more care. This helps students to identify minefields and how to avoid them. And believe me, in Somali, there are plenty of minefields. I’ve written a detailed free ebook on this topic, ‘7 Proven Strategies to Mastering Somali.’ Please search for it on my site.

4. You can’t teach an old dog new tricks
Native teachers come with a lifetime of culture, accents, experiences and feelings all related to their language. They often have their own idiosyncrasies of mistakes, regional slang and also general personal preference. It’s hard to put all that aside to teach the language to someone else. As a result of not being native teachers and having less exposure to informal speech, I tend to teach the formal version of the Somali and therefore, the most widely accepted. For the students it is always better to learn the formal version first because most of them will use it to communicate with Somalis who live in the West and hail from different parts of the Somali territories and later on will be able to acquire additional vocabulary from TV, movies and books.

Whenever you start learning a new language, use a professional qualified teacher. Why? Because you need your teacher to be responsible for the lesson plans and the sequence of lessons, and to give you detailed guidance on grammar, as well as working on your pronunciation.

A lesson plan is a teacher’s guide for what students need to learn, how it will be taught, and how learning will be measured.

Lesson plans help teachers be more effective in the classroom by providing a detailed outline to follow each lesson.

This ensures every minute  of lesson time is spent teaching new concepts and having meaningful discussions — not figuring it out on the fly!

The most effective lesson plans have six key parts:

* Lesson Objectives

* Related Requirements

* Lesson Materials

* Lesson Procedure

* Assessment Method

* Lesson Reflection

Because each part of a lesson plan plays a role in the learning experience of your students, it’s important to approach them with a clear plan in mind.

An unqualified teacher does not have the training to prepare lesson plans.

Apart from lesson planning, unqualified teachers have not studied the method and practice of teaching (pedagogy).

Other requirements a trainee teacher must study are

• Teaching vocabulary
  Teaching Pronunciation
• Understanding grammar
• Teaching receptive skills: listening and reading
• Teaching Productive Skills: speaking and writing
• Teaching grammar
• Principles of teaching as a foreign language
• Materials and aids for teaching
• Using resources effectively when teaching a foreign language

I agree there are some excellent unqualified teachers. However, many of them have gaps in their knowledge. No one is born a good teacher. It takes hard work, study, dedication, and commitment to learn how to teach beginners.

A unqualified teacher may teach you wrong concepts which may become ingrained in you for life. He/she may also leave gaps in your learning which may take you a long time discover.

You need to begin your Somali language learning journey by mastering the fundamentals. Yes you will save money by working with an unqualified teacher. But how do you know if he/she can even teach you the fundamentals. The money you pay for lessons are an investment. And the best investment strategy as a beginner is to study with a professional qualified teacher.

# Tailor approach
Lessons for beginners are and should be addressed in a different way. At this stage, learners don’t have the vocabulary to step into a conversation. This can be intimidating and discouraging. It’s important to start off exploring their needs, what they already know and what needs improvement, ensuring they receive the support needed to address their questions: in Somali or Arabic.

# Predict errors
Not only do I understand the students’ native language but I also have a good understanding of their background. Have you ever tried to translate a sentence from your mother tongue to a second language? You probably realized that in many cases, words that fit perfectly in your native language might not work well in another one.

# Create a positive learning environment
Learning a new language from zero is tricky as it is. As a bilingual teacher I can relate to my students and am committed to making beginner learners feel as comfortable as possible during those very first steps. I always try not to put my students in the spotlight and instead, allow them to learn at their own pace. I make it clear from the beginning that it’s ok to make mistakes. I’ve made tons of mistakes while learning Somali. In fact, I hope they make errors during my lessons! That way I can really address their specific needs.

# Practice makes perfect!
During the lessons, students are encouraged to put what they learned into practice as much as possible. Whether it’s through role-plays or simply discussing the latest news, this approach will encourage to make use of their vocabulary and incorporate new words they’ve never used. I do a lot of role-plays during my lessons to make it as dynamic as possible. I like students to see how they can make use of the language and what they are learning. Whether it’s introducing themselves and what they do, or practice shopping or language used when dating.

At Heedheh, I’m committed to making learners, no matter what level they are at, to feel as comfortable as possible during those very first steps of their language learning journey, making my lessons flexible to learn at their own pace with bilingual support in Arabic and English.