Its been an interesting week to say the least. Finally time to get down to the serious task of teaching. Will I make a good teacher after-all? That will remain to be seen. Although I have a proven record as a carer, being a teacher is a totally different ball game, as I am rapidly learning. But those who know me will be aware that once I have actually committed myself, I will do my best. Check in for my weekly reports and see how I do. Or should I say we? Boon is accompanying me as my classroom assistant and has shown an immediate aptitude for teaching, that has been one of the joys for me this week, watching him flourish as he takes over the job of explaining things that my level of Thai language does not allow me to do properly.
Indeed, on a scale of 1-10 for teaching ability this week I’d mark myself down at a dubious 6 and Somboon at a well deserved 9.
Given the task of teaching P4, P5 and P6 one of the first headaches was realising that the level of English taught previously means that many of these students have little chance of following the course book provided without being taken through the basics first. Very few of any of the levels go much further than recognising the alphabet.
The Thai system being what it is, the school is fairly insistent that the course books are followed by P5 and P6 as it is these books that their all important tests are based upon.
So the big task is to find ways of breaking down each exercise into the simplest components to ensure that the pupils understand what they are learning.
Being happy when my brain is well exercised, this , luckily, is one of the joys for me.
Another joy is the enthusiasm of most of the students for being taught by a native English teacher.
The first two days went reasonably well, accounting for my own initial nervousness and poor preparation on the first day. The main thing that came out of it was the need to use Boon much more as a second teacher, rather than just an assistant.
Three, back to back , hour long lessons is also a bit of a pain, but manageable. On Mondays and Tuesdays it is P5 from12.30 to 1.30, P6 from 1.30 to 2.30 and the delightful P4 from 2.30 to 3.30.
One of the first things we did with all the classes was the basic introduction, ‘My name is….’. As I went from child to child getting them to introduce themselves, Boon was busy with the camera taking photos of all the students.
P5 is the largest class with 16 pupils, yes I know, I’m lucky. The next headache was realising that maintaining discipline , even with relatively small class sizes may not be easy. The novelty of a farang teacher brings excitement and a tendency for some of the children to want to fool around and make fun. This was a minor problem for a couple of days. For me most of it was insignificant and did not detract from the class to much.
However, Somboon made it clear that he wasn’t impressed and warned me that the problem would likely get much worse if I didn’t lay the law down soon, pointing out the absolute silence in the other classrooms run by the Thai teachers.
Realising that although I don’t necessarily think that absolute silence is a good sign either, I do except that I must respect the culture here and find a balance between my own liberalism and what is expected in Thai schools.
Another mild headache came on Wednesday when we arrived early, as instructed. According to our timetable, we would be teaching P4 from 11.30 to 12.30, P5 from 12.30 to 1.30 and P6 from 1.30 to 2.3o.
Well 11.30 to 12.30 turns out to be lunch time. Then there followed a protracted discussion between all the teachers, who were somewhat perturbed that we were apparently teaching English everyday and that the times we had been given, did not match up with their own timetables. I rapidly made it clear that I had no wish to cause a problem and was happy with any timetable they came up with.
In the end it was decided that we would not be teaching P6 on Tuesdays or Fridays.
On this Wednesday we ended up with P4 from 12.30 to 1.30 and then P6 from 1.30 t0 2.30 and no P5. At least Boon did. I could only do half of P4s lesson because I had to shoot off into town to get my new visa at Chiang Mai Immigration. My work permit had come through on Tuesday, I managed to go to City Hall for that late after school. Yesterday I got to Immigration for around 1.30 and had a little over an hours wait until I got the first installment of my new visa. I have to go back in 1 month when I should then get a further 2 months after which I should receive a new 12 month visa. Happy days.
Having got my visa i popped in to The Brick Road Cafe, where Dimitri has now installed electronic mosquito zappers. Only stopping for coffee, I caught sight of a parade that came up Ratchadamnoen Rd to Wat Chedi Luang. Asking the staff what this was they pointed out that it is the annual 7 day festival at the Temple held to bring good luck for the city.
I also popped to the photo shop by the Three Kings Monument and had the childrens photos developed into passport size pics, and took the chance to go for a foot massage at ChiangMai Reflexology Centre while i waited for the photos.
Today at school went very well with all the classes. there was a bit of a swop around again, when we took P6 first, (12.30-1.30), then P5 and P4.
Boon had already stuck the photos onto individual cards which we handed out to all the students at the start of each class, getting them to write down, my name is………. This was very popular with the children and a great tool for me to get to remember all the names.
Boon then did a great job in both P6 and P5 helping to explain a few of the basic grammar points, such as the verb ‘to be’ and all the tenses. Again I am fortunate to have him helping as he was able to explain in one hour what it may have taken me a week.
P4 today got the first real dose of me laying down the law. They really were quite excitable today and a few of them were constantly chattering and playing around. A sharp rap on the table and a short speech on behaviour, delivered in my most ‘angry’ tone along with the threat of a visit to Khruu Yai for any pupil who wanted to disrupt the class in the future, and all was well and at the end of the lesson I took them outside for a team game of ‘find the word’, just to show that learning in my class can be fun, if they behave.
The weeks not quite over but i am feeling much more comfortable about it all after getting the first couple of days out of the way and already looking forward to next week.
So if you didn’t know already, there is still time to go and check out the festivities at Wat Chedi Luang, that have apparently been going on all week.
What I can say is that these events are always very colourful and well worth a visit, for a taste of local culture. And I would like to point out that this is indeed very much part of the local Chiang Mai culture, and not just some show put on for tourists.
So it was party time here tonight and I’d like to start off by saying a big thanks to all my staff, Mr Ping Pong, and our French Clarinet player,(sorry didnt get your name).
The party went very well and the children all seemed to enjoy themselves very much.
Some of the kids had a bash on the Cafe Congas.
Keen to involve the local culture, and with many surplus presents in the ‘bin’, we then gave another present to each child before walking into Wat Chedi Luang, the Temple behind us, where the children gave these presents to the Monks to pass on to others.
The children were captivated by the Monk, who spoke to them for around 45 minutes before performing a blessing on all the children, with the tying of the symbolic string around their wrists.
It was a wonderful setting and end to what had been a full and exciting day for the children.
Mrs Wilaipron is a 40 year old Mother of 1 young son and runs the snack stall towards the Ratchadamnoen Rd side entrance , inside the grounds of Wat Chedi Luang.
Her working day starts at 6am when she and her husband arrive at the Temple and spend the first hour or so in preparation for the day, sweeping the area in front of the stall and getting ready for the arrival of the many Monks and Novices who come to the School and University at Wat Chedi Luang.
