First there were expectations. I even paid for an online course in "teaching English as a foreign language" because I realised that I need to learn some skills to be a teacher. So I learned how to make lesson plans, how to teach vocabulary, grammar, listening or reading skills. Equipped with this "toolbox" I came to my class.
The mornings in the "high school for novices" begin in an assembly hall, where all the pupils in their orange robes sit on the floor and listen to a speech given by a senior monk.
Then at nine o'clock, the classes begin. Or they should.
For a European, used to very strict discipline and everything being on time and clearly organised, a Thai school seems very relaxed. Times when classes are supposed to start are, apparently, just for general orientation. Sometimes, the pupils would come 10 minutes late, because they were held up in their morning meeting before school. Sometimes, the bell would ring to indicate the end of class. Sometimes, one of the students would tell me, that our time's up.
A big surprise was that I had to be barefoot in school. Of course, you'd take off your shoes when entering a temple or even a public bathroom. (Luckily they provide "inside" shoes to wear.) But I had no idea I'd be barefoot in school. It felt very strange at first. I felt kind of exposed. And not to speak of the cold floor. Then I got some socks and life got so much better.
Another difference are the open classrooms. Doors are there, but they are never closed. Pupils walk in and out, as they feel appropriate, plus the noise is just overwhelming, so you have to speak really loud.
When the teacher comes in, everybody stands up and greets you almost like chanting "good morning, teacher, how are you" so you answer, "I'm fine, how are you" and when the students tell you they are fine, you ask them to sit down. It's better not to confuse them with words, like "I'm great", never interrupt their routine.
In the class itself, I improvise a lot. I didn't get any textbooks from the teacher so I have no idea, how much my pupils are actually supposed to know. Suffice to say, that their knowledge seems rather basic.
There's not much you can achieve within three weeks that I have available. But I try. At least, I want to spark some more enthusiasm for English. So we play simple games, I mime and act a lot, when presenting new things and give a lot of encouragement and praise, when they cooperate with me :-)
Quite often, they just talk in Thai and laugh. But it seems to me that when they laugh, it's more an expression of embarrassment rather than laughing AT me. After all, they are still teenage boys, even though they wear their monk's robes. And they are very shy.
The best part is, when some of them come up to me after class, just to say a few words. Maybe it's because they're less embarrassed when their classmates are not listening. And it turns out that they actually know a lot!
It takes a lot of patience, but it is a lot of fun too. Definitely a great way to get to know a bit more about the life in this country.
Another difference are the open classrooms. Doors are there, but they are never closed. Pupils walk in and out, as they feel appropriate, plus the noise is just overwhelming, so you have to speak really loud.
When the teacher comes in, everybody stands up and greets you almost like chanting "good morning, teacher, how are you" so you answer, "I'm fine, how are you" and when the students tell you they are fine, you ask them to sit down. It's better not to confuse them with words, like "I'm great", never interrupt their routine.
In the class itself, I improvise a lot. I didn't get any textbooks from the teacher so I have no idea, how much my pupils are actually supposed to know. Suffice to say, that their knowledge seems rather basic.
There's not much you can achieve within three weeks that I have available. But I try. At least, I want to spark some more enthusiasm for English. So we play simple games, I mime and act a lot, when presenting new things and give a lot of encouragement and praise, when they cooperate with me :-)
Quite often, they just talk in Thai and laugh. But it seems to me that when they laugh, it's more an expression of embarrassment rather than laughing AT me. After all, they are still teenage boys, even though they wear their monk's robes. And they are very shy.
The best part is, when some of them come up to me after class, just to say a few words. Maybe it's because they're less embarrassed when their classmates are not listening. And it turns out that they actually know a lot!
It takes a lot of patience, but it is a lot of fun too. Definitely a great way to get to know a bit more about the life in this country.
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