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Before I tell you about my teaching experiences in a Thai school, let me tell you a bit about schools in Thailand.

Anuban = Kindergarten; Prathom = Primary; Matayom = Secondary

Exams

At the end of each school year, the chidren take exams. The students who pass the exams move on into the class above. Children who fail, re-take the same year again until they pass the exams. This means that an eight year old child could be in a class of six year olds. The students work very hard to pass their exams.

The School Year

In Thailand there are only two terms in one school year. They do not have any mid-term breaks (half terms). The new school year begins in May and ends in mid-October. There is then a three week break. The second term runs from early November to mid March. Then there is a two month break for the summer holidays.

My School Day

My first class each day is at nine o'clock, although the school day starts an hour earlier. I only teach for half an hour at a time at the moment, as I am still getting used to the heat. When I am teaching I have to stand near a fan so I do not get too hot. In between lessons I have time to cool off before the next lesson.
Classroom photos

What I do I teach?

I mainly teach conversation and pronounciation. This can involve me reading a passage from a text book with the students repeating each sentence after me or asking the students questions.
I also teach the students songs which will help them improve their English in a fun way. Songs like 'If you're happy and you know it' and 'This is the way I clean my teeth' are very good examples.

Classroom photos

 What is it like teaching English as a foreign language?

A colleague of mine from England, joked before I left that it would be easier to teach French rather than English, as neither parties involved would understand French. Sometimes I think this could be true.
The hardest obstacle to overcome is the fact that I do not understand Thai and the students knowledge of the English language is very limited. This can lead to some very funny and sometimes confusing moments. Like the time I tried to teach a class of 5 year olds to say 'I am (name)' I slowly said to the class 'I am Mandy', whilst pointing to myself. They immediately copied me saying exactly what I said 'I am Mandy'!! I tried again, in as many ways as I could but still they said, pointing to themselves, 'I am Mandy' It was so funny. I am glad to say, by the next day I had achieved my goal.
Classroom photos

What is it like teaching in Thailand?

The classrooms are opened planned, so as to let the air circulate. They each have big sliding windows which are left open unless it raining very hard. They also have big folding doors which are again left open. This, of course, is a great way of keep the classrooms cool, but it is a minus when it comes to teaching above the noises from the classes nearby and also from the streets below.
To be heard by the children you need to talk in a loud voice, sometimes you may even find yourself shouting to be heard over the din. On one occasions, I found myself competing with the class next door learning to play the recorder, loud music from the streets and loud claps of thunder overhead. This was an exception, normally it is only the former two which I have to contend with.
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