Raouf Mama creates teaching award in his native Benin

Distinguished English Professor Raouf Mama of Eastern Connecticut State University has founded an award recognizing excellence in English teaching in his native country of Benin. The Penrose Best Teacher of the Year Award was presented at a ceremony at the University of Abomey-Calavi in Benin on Dec. 28, 2023.

Mama created the award in memory of Henry Penrose, an English professor whom he studied with as an undergraduate at the University of Abomey-Calavi. "Had it not been for him, I probably would not be teaching English today," said Mama.

"Professor Penrose was really instrumental in my becoming an English teacher, and that's why I would like to honor his memory."

A committee nominated several teachers for the award. "The two finalists gave a PowerPoint presentation to tell the committee and members of the audience about their approach to teaching and what motivates them," explained Mama. The winner was given 500,000 CFA francs, or nearly $1,000.

Mama raised money for the award with the help of the Eastern community, including Joe McGann, director of institutional advancement. Mama raised nearly $500 by distributing copies of his storytelling CD and book, titled "It Was a Beautiful Day and Other Personal Quiet Miracle Stories."

"Many people were very supportive," said Mama. "Even members of the university community who already had my CD bought another just to support me."

Benin is a French-speaking country, meaning that English is taught as a second language. As part of his career and inspired by Penrose, Mama has become involved with teaching of English to speakers of other languages (TESOL).

While Mama's work at Eastern involves teaching English to native speakers, he hopes to carry on Penrose's memory by inspiring non-native English speakers the way Penrose inspired him.

"TESOL is a big thing in Benin because English is not a native language in Benin," he said. "I am a very particular case because I studied English as a second language, but I'm teaching English to native speakers today."

The Penrose Best Teacher of the Year Award is one of several steps Mama plans to take with the goal of "making it possible for teachers to inspire students," he said. Another is working to improve the living conditions of teachers in Benin.

In 2022, Mama was invited to give a keynote address in Benin, and in doing so, he composed a poem lamenting the low pay and substandard living conditions of teachers in Benin, hoping to inspire a pay increase for Beninese educators. "A teacher who cannot make ends meet will not be inspiring anyone," he said.

No matter his method, Mama's message is the same and is synonymous with his impetus for creating the Penrose Best Teacher of the Year Award. "Good teachers inspire their students," he said. "I wouldn't be a teacher of English today if I hadn't encountered a number of outstanding teachers who inspired me, who were my role models."