ONET English Camp

I have to admit I had romanticized the idea of teaching in a poor, small, village school, but the experience of teaching “camp” last week revitalized the optimism I had before I started teaching. My school hosted an ONET (the national standardized test) prep camp for our students and 8 other schools in our district. My responsibility was to create and manage a station that reviewed “getting to know you” vocabulary and basic introductions. 

The revelation I had happened once we started to play the games, and I was shocked by how far my students have come. Having other students at the camp reminded me how timid and shy my students first were when I arrived. I am the first foreign teacher in my school, and it has taken my students (as well as myself) a long time to understand each other, my expectations, how to listen, and how to have confidence when speaking in English. With the students from other schools attending the camp, I was able to compare the vast difference in my student. I finally understood the rewards of being the first foreigner and working at a poor, community school.  

I know that part of my student’s confidence is an effect of being comfortable with me, but I could also see the difference in how my students listened and could follow English directions.  For example, when I said “make a circle”, “listen”, or “find a friend” I could see how quick my students understood these English directions. During one of the games I had a student stand in the middle of a circle and call out something they either liked or had (Ex: I have a brother) while the other students crossed the circle if they retained that trait.

 As a group this is a very easy concept, but asking a Thai student to speak on their own can be a very difficult task (stems from loosing face and being afraid to be punished for mistakes. Students are often hit for incorrect answers given in class or on a quiz). On average the confidence in my students to speak on their own differed greatly from their peers in other school.

I am not writing this to brag about my students, but I have never been so proud to be a teacher and especially a teacher in a small, poor school.  Being the first foreign teacher in my school, I have struggled with communication and knowing my responsibilities.For example I learned 3 months into the school year that my teacher wanted a grade for each student. Originally I was told my only expectation was to practice English through fun games and lessons, and the skills they were leaning would help enhance their English class taught by a Thai teacher.  After today I realize the cost of being the first is over shadowed by the reward of seeing my students overcome the learning curve. My students are far behind in terms of the national standards, but compared to where they were 3 months ago their accomplishments are massive.