“Mosetsana” Lesson
Learners will read and discuss "Mosetsana," a poem written about a day in the life of a resilient South Africa girl.
Learners will focus on reading and discussion on issues of gender, education, and family as they appear in the poem.
Objectives
- Learners will gain a new perspective about the lives of people in South Africa.
- Learners will discuss how elements of poetry such as tone work to convey meaning.
- Learners will discuss similarities and differences between their lives and the lives of the poem’s characters.
Vocabulary
- bogobe: a stiff porridge
Procedures
Assign learners to read "Mosetsana" the poem silently. Ask learners to write at least two responses to this questions:
- What details about Mosetsana's life stand out to you when you read the poem?
Then select a learner or a group of learners to read the poem aloud. As a class or in small groups (using virtual break-out rooms if virtual), use the following questions to guide discussion:
- Describe a day in Mosetsana's life. What activities does she complete at what times of day?
- What is Mosetsana's family situation? Why do you think it is that way?
- How does your life compare to Mosetsana's? What are your chores? How is your classroom different?
- How do you think Mosetsana's life is different from that of the boys in her classes?
- Who is the narrator of this poem? What tone do they use?
Extensions
Ask learners to write a poem about their own lives that illustrates similarities and differences to Mosetsana’s. Assign learners to research HIV/AIDS in South Africa, including how the disease is changing the makeup of families.