Hannah’s Weblog

So from my previous post, you kind of got the impression I wasn’t look forward to the TEFL conference. And that was true, Ruth and I begrudged loosing our weekend, but how wrong we were. lesson learned this weekend…’Give everything a try, you may be peasantly surprised!’ So we had to meet at 8.30 Saturday morning at the office. O met us, and we walked together 5 minutes to a nearby hotel. It turned out O hadn’t given us any info about this seminar and the ladies running it had prepared stuff for us, which we hadn’t recieved. This Conference was an annual TEFL training seminar which guided Thai secondary teachers in ways to teach and improve their English lessons. About 60 teachers attended, and when I saw the microphones, power point presentation and boardroom-like set up I was a little nervous. But it turned out they just wanted our assistance in reading out certain parts of the seminar in English. It was a methodology seminar on day one, so we were not needed that much as the lady realised she had to teach it in Thai. We had coffee breaks, with sweet hot coffee and mini delicious thai cakes.  For lunch we sat with the important people and were spoilt with an amazing feast of delicious Thai food We were introduced to lots of important, but extremely amiable education directors. The levels of respect shown were so humbling. Like in Japan the women literally bent to a forty-five degree angle as they passed these men, bowing timidly. Speaking and spending times with the teachers ws also amazing. They are doing such a great job teaching English and apparently struggling to keep up with the the neighbouring countries in regards to their childrens level of English. With few native English speakers working in Thailand, they have an enormous task ahead of them. Especially as many of them were struggling with learning the English language themselves. It made us realise how important it is for Surin that Starfish ventures brings out English teachers, and to volunteer is even better! For me. even though the teaching is challenging, its almost a bonus for me to have the opportunity to be able to teach in a Thai school (a glorified travelling experience as it were). But for them its an experinece of a lifetime, and will really give these young students a chance at a place at university and a decent career.

Saturday night we all went out together, Stuart, Ruth, Fatima and I with our Thai collegues (and friends)…It was a great night, and I know I have made friends for life here in Surin.

The second day, Sunday we had a more important role to play. This was a practical seminar in teaching techniques and Wasana ( a lady who studied in Melborne) was going to deliver it in English. Ruth and I helped her with pronunciations and ran whole exercises.  Luckily I have teaching experience and only did my CELTA last year so I was fortunate to use my knowledge to help the teachers, giving them advise and suggestions on ways to keep their students engaged and having fun. It was another great day, which finished with a certificate ceremony. The teachers (98% women) graciously bowed as they recieved their certificates from the director of education. It was lush!Then when I though it couldn’t get any better, they called our names!!! Ruth and I were speechless that they had even thought to include us in this. A million photos were taken of us and thanks was given. We have also been invited to lunch with Wasana next week

To think we didn’t want to go, and to think how much we got out of participating! We were on a high when we left, an adrenalin buzz only achievable form the fact we were volunteering but also the kind and wonderful people we were fortunate enough to spend the weekend with….. I have e new outlook on teaching out here now, and this week I think that has showed! My solo lessons are going fabulously, I have a wondeful relationship with all the teachers, and am seriously thinking this is the career for me……