Lecturing to the South Sudan Police Service managers

Today I had to deliver a lecture to a class of South Sudan Police Service managers on Capacity building through Recruitment, Training, Assessment and Feedback. I was asked to do it yesterday around 11:00, which means I had a day to prepare my lesson plan and PowerPoint. Secretly being pleased to be asked to develop this class, I agreed despite the short time line and set out to prepare a high level, strategic view of the topic.

I think I did all right as far as the topic went. But, we have a problem when we train the SSPS as they don’t all speak English fluently; in fact some of them speak no English at all. Not a problem, I was told, an interpreter would be provided. It isn’t easy to lecture with an interpreter, it takes twice as long as it normally does, I don’t get into any kind of a rhythm as I have to stop after every sentence or indeed after every clause for what I say to be interested, but nonetheless I forged on, undaunted.

I arrived at the South Sudan Police training facility this afternoon at 1315 hrs. as scheduled and the interpreter had left. No idea where he was, He was just gone. I knew I was in trouble when I said “No matter, let’s see how many people speak English, raise your hand if you understand what I’m saying now” and no one raised their hand….