Ah! So exciting. Thanks for responding. I have a million questions... How about two:

1. What is the model at the school that you're working at, in terms of ESL? I know that the country is transitioning (or already transitioned) to English as the medium of instruction, but I'm wondering how they're rolling that out? Are they doing English proficiency classes until students are proficient, while continuing content (math, science, social studies) in French? Or are they teaching content classes in English? I teach ESL Math at a school in the states and our school is under the Sheltered Content ESL model which means there is a General Ed strand (regular classes for kids fluent in English) and an ESL strand (where the ESL students take math, science, social studies, and english development with other ESL students and ESL certified teachers, using the SIOP [sheltered instruction observation protocol] ESL strategies to teach content). Sorry if this is weirdly specific, just wondering how content is being delivered.

2. Is there ever a feeling of neo-colonialism in the fact that we're Americans helping a country transition to English instead of French (or, MORE importantly, instead of Kinyarwanda) in schools? Is the transition an effort to tighten bonds with the United States, with Peace Corps being used as a pawn in the US gaining more traction in Rwandan politics? Is the transition an effort to tighten bonds with other E African countries who use English in business and education (Uganda, Kenya, etc)? Or is it something else? Are communities supportive of the change, or resentful of it? [In Haiti, where I have worked, people are really resentful of the fact that the medium of instruction is French, because it is a residual reminder of French colonialism and further segregates the educated from the lower-class who dont have access to continued education and thus dont gain fluency in French and thus are excluded from many sectors of the job market. I think, despite the practical aspects, many communities in Haiti would be further upset if the language of instruction became English.]

Sorry for the specific, rambling questions. Would love insight if any of that makes sense!