We are delighted to recognise Yetwale Bazezew (Ethiopia) as our TeachingEnglish Member of the Month for August 2026.
Meet Yetwale Bazezew
Yetwale Bazezew is an experienced English language educator based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with over 12 years of teaching experience in private schools. He graduated from Bahir Dar University with a degree in English Language and has spent the past five years teaching the IGCSE and AS Level curricula at International Maarif Schools of Ethiopia.
In addition to his classroom responsibilities, Yetwale serves as a Speaking Examiner and Moderator for the IGCSE English examinations. His work reflects a strong commitment to maintaining high standards in English language education and assessment.
As an active member of the English Connects professional community, Yetwale is passionate about continuous professional development and values opportunities to collaborate with fellow educators across Sub-Saharan Africa. He believes that learning from diverse perspectives helps teachers create more meaningful and effective learning experiences for their students.
Yetwale's practical teaching tips
Focus Area: Knowing the Subject
1. Continuously update your subject knowledge
I actively participate in professional development opportunities to stay informed about current approaches, methodologies, and innovations in English language teaching.
2. Connect subject knowledge to classroom practice
I adapt ideas and resources shared within our professional community to suit the specific needs, abilities, and learning contexts of my students.
3. Teach English in meaningful contexts
Language learning should focus on communication. I encourage students to understand how language is used for real purposes, real audiences, and authentic situations rather than concentrating only on grammatical structures.
4. Learn from colleagues across the region
One of the greatest strengths of our community is the diversity of experiences shared by teachers from across Sub-Saharan Africa. Their insights encourage me to reflect on and improve my own teaching practices.
5. Experiment, evaluate, and refine
Effective teaching requires continuous improvement. I regularly trial new strategies in my classroom, gather feedback from learners, evaluate the outcomes, and adapt my practice accordingly.
Thank you, Yetwale, for sharing your experiences and practical teaching insights with the English Connects community. Your commitment to professional learning, collaboration, and meaningful English language teaching continues to inspire fellow teachers across Sub-Saharan Africa.