tmvolunteers.org

Some volunteers have been disappointed in their failure of being able to send across the English language to the students. It is a tough job as when we come here as foreigners thinking we have the knowledge and the tools required to be good teachers. We think we know, but we don’t.

First Impression
Turning up the first day at Ban Huaisai Primary School to be introduced to teachers, parents, all the students are lined up, standing in the sun. The principal is talking to the students through a microphone, connected to a loudspeaker system; with speakers strategically placed all over the school to make sure that everyone at school and the surrounding neighborhood can hear what the principal has to say to the kids. Parents have arrived to take a look at the “volunteer English teacher” “Nong told me that she is a farang from England…” “dunno where she’s from, I just came to see her complexion…” All 62 students, acting routinely to what the principal is saying, are all staring at you… with a kind smile the principal turns to you… and hands you the microphone, time for you to say something to everyone.

Yes, the first couple of minutes as a volunteer English teacher can to some be an overwhelming new experience, thinking of the thought process here; from the first time you saw our website, to now actually be standing here in a small village in Southeast Asia! Some volunteers: “What am I gonna say!?” and other volunteers, if not all: “Wow, it is hot here!” It’s time to realize that all the “order” and systems that we are used to in the western hemisphere… well, this is the eastern hemisphere, and what might seem logical at home has a totally different meaning here. Thailand and the Thai people are so very inviting for everyone to have a great experience and for that to happen one just need to try to understand just a bit of the unique Thai culture and how things are done in a polite Thai manner. Being kind hearted and open minded are also two qualities a volunteer English teacher should have. Shortly after arrival we have a talk about do’s and don’ts, teaching at a Thai school, Thai manners, lesson planning, and getting on with it.

Ideas
Creative ideas must come from the volunteer, your imagination is your limit, let it be your frontier to explore and come up with ways to convey the English language to the children. Many years of textbook teaching has produced very limited results in the student’s reading and writing skills, and even less in their conversational abilities. Aim for lessons getting the students out of their chairs and using the English language, literally. If the first week goes by with always having a positive attitude where students seemingly hardly make any mistakes and you are not the “correcting” teacher, you can go into the second week of teaching knowing some of the strengths and weaknesses of the classes and some students, prepared with lessons made by you, knowing it’s going to be fun. You will quickly find out who the eager students are and use them to your advantage in your teaching as they are not shy to speak. By advantage I mean that you could ask these students questions and even if they gave you a wrong answer you could feed them the correct and they will show their peers that speaking English is “eeeasy”.

Getting close to the students and try to understand their level of understanding is essential for an English teacher in Thailand. Some students will come to you even before you have taught your first lesson, they might just want to touch your skin and they won’t say a word, others after a couple of days, and few will never be anywhere near you throughout your entire volunteer teaching period. Use your skills and talents, you know which ones you have, and I know that you have various.

Ban Huaisai Primary School
About 250 people live in Ban Huaisai Village and that has been sufficient for the government to open a primary school. The people are mainly rubber-tree and palm-oil farmers, just are most other villages in District of Thai Mueang. With 62 students the school is entitled to 3 teachers and a principal, provided by the Thai Ministry of Education. The Thai teachers must be able to teach at least three subjects and are often teaching grades 1-3 in one classroom and grades 4-6 in another. “Teeacha… Teeacha!” adapt, learn and have a wonderful time.

Smiles
Anders

Have Fun!

I pop bubble wrap at 1.61 bubbles per second! I popped 196 bubbles in 2 minutes and 1.8 seconds at www.Virtual-Bubblewrap.com! Can you beat my score?

bubble wrap

Technorati Tags: bubble wrap

Volunteers and TMV have always talked about the location of the volunteer house, actually it seems to be the greatest cause of trouble to some, so let me try to explain it clearly from my point of view.

The volunteer house is located exactly 1.2 km, 0.75 miles outside the center of Thai Mueang. From the center of Thai Mueang to the beach is less than 1 km, and the beach itself is 13 km long. There is a bicycle at the house for volunteers to use freely and if there is more than one volunteer here, Net lends out her mountain bike so there are two bikes. From the volunteer house it is a bit downhill towards town, and then of course it is a bit uphill back to the house.

We have been all around Thai Mueang looking at houses for rent, pro’s and con’s will always be there but everything taken into consideration we strongly believe that we made a good choice as only 2 volunteers out of 16 have voiced the location of the house as being troublesome.

Volunteers who have acclimatized quickly at the house, have tried to make it their home, have taken advantage of the benefits of the house, and not been too concerned about what is not there like back home, and have concentrated on their volunteer purpose which is teaching, have had the best stays here.
It is important to sweep the floor every day, you are the cleaner, you have to keep the volunteer house clean, just like you do back home. Mob the bathroom floor after use, try to notice that there are other volunteers staying there too.

You can rent a motorbike in Thai Mueang, the price is 200 Baht per day and you own the motorbike if you crash it, meaning that you will have to pay 30.000 Baht if you total it. Check your travel insurance; does it cover if you damage other people’s vehicles if you are the driver? If you have any intention renting any type of vehicle in Thailand please check if your insurance company covers it.
If you take some time to talk to Khun Tin, he will surely give you a discount on the motorbike rental when he finds out that you are a volunteer.

Volunteer excuses heard:

The saddle hurts my bum…
Answer: Don’t worry; your bum-cheeks will get used to it.

It is raining; I cannot go to the beach…
Answer: Of course you can, put on rain gear.

There is a big spider in the bathroom…
Answer: I know, we’ve met, sometimes he is there and sometimes he’s not, sometimes he’s at my place, and if it’s not him, it’s another one. Please call me if he is bigger than your hand so I can take a photo.

It is too hot to walk…
Answer: I know.

The other volunteer is messy or takes up too much space…
Answer: In a kind manner, talk to the people involved and make it work.

It is too hot to bicycle…
Answer: I know.

The mosquitoes are biting me…
Answer: Light up a mosquito coil, open the back door and let the smoke through the house, and/or put some mosquito spray on yourself.

It is too hot to shower I’m sweating again when done …
Answer: Shower anyway, shower 3 to 5 times a day, everybody else does.

I’m tired of eating rice…
Answer: I get tired of eating rice too, just eat noodles for a while and try to go back on the rice in a couple of days.

It is too hot to __________ (Fill in the blank yourself)
Answer: I know.

Is it really that different from your expectations that some things become agonizing? Are we really not trying our best to explain the way of living and how things are around here through our website and this blog so that there can be no major surprises when volunteers arrive? I believe we do try our best to explain, and every volunteer is asked to contribute to our site and blog, some do and some don’t, positive or negative nothing is altered. We do not change anything of what volunteers write because we know that it is not for everyone to become a volunteer here in Thai Mueang, people are different, and if you sincerely consider volunteering, be sure to read everything on our website and on this blog, also read about Thailand and its culture before committing as a volunteer. Remember! This is Thailand and everything is different here than in the rest of the world.

Thai Mueang is located about 13 degrees north of equator, that is 1400 km or 870 miles, we are on the same latitude as countries like; Ethiopia or Nigeria on the African continent, Honduras or Belize in middle America, it is hot here! Please do some searches on the search engines (Google, Yahoo, MSN) for information on how to act like in hot countries and in the heat.

For questions about volunteering with Thai Mueang Volunteers, please go to the ‘Contact us‘ page and send us an email.

Open your mind and heart and spread love and kindness wherever possible.

Have a great day!
Anders

volunteer in Thailand, volunteer excuses, Thailand, too hot

Technorati Tags: volunteer in Thailand, volunteer excuses, Thailand, too hot