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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

Countdown…

Tia will be here in the morning to take me away. Can’t believe my month here is up already; feels like I was just starting to almost get the hang of things: I figured out how to navigate the market and buy food (and even got what I wanted); I had some successful days in class; plus I finally managed to get my bearings around town– which is quite a feat for me, as I’m one of those people who couldn’t find her way out of a paper bag on occasion. And just like that, it’s time to say goodbye.

Some of my favorite memories of my time here will be the simplest ones: Walking along a deserted beach and finding an enormous seashell. The neighbor’s puppy sticking her head in the doorway and shrieking for attention every morning. Shopping with Net, and laughing over dinner with her and Anders. Riding around on the back of scooters with strangers. The teachers who welcomed me into their classes and were always friendly.

Of course, the ones that left the greatest impression are the kids, the kids, the kids. There was the boy who leapt up and danced in his seat whenever I looked his way. The one who brought me his toy gecko as a gift. The ones who kept poking my bright pink sunburnt skin to see if it was real. There were moments when their faces would light up with recognition when they “got” it, and confused smiles when they didn’t. Getting mobbed every day with hugs and shouts of, “Teacher, I love you!” Some of them live in pretty dire circumstances, but they still laugh and love as easily as their classmates.

It seems over the top to say that such a short time has radically changed my life, but perhaps it is my perception of my life that has changed most. My small house in the States seems extravagant compared to what I’ve seen here. The pressure to consume more and more has been gone these last few weeks, and I hadn’t even been aware of what a burden that can be until I was away from it. Who cares what the Joneses have? I’m happy that my needs are met… but, I am Soooooo looking forward to a very long soak in a bathtub with no creepy crawlies for company.

I am thankful to have had the opportunity to live in this community instead of just wandering around taking pictures. It has made a world of difference to me to be able to participate, not just observe. I’m already making plans to come back.

Jenn

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